worthless
Americanadjective
adjective
-
without practical value or usefulness
-
without merit; good-for-nothing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of worthless
Explanation
If you have your antique pearl necklace appraised by a jeweler and learn that it's a worthless fake, you'll be terribly disappointed, since something that's worthless has no monetary value. Use the adjective worthless to describe something that has no use or isn't worth any money. Your old broken-down car, a stamp collection with no value, and your no-good roommate who never cleans and won't pay his share of the rent could all be described as worthless. The roots are the Old English words weorð, "equal in value to," and leas, "devoid of."
Vocabulary lists containing worthless
Power Suffix: -less
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Good Riddance
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The exhibition runs through Jan. 16 at the Worthless Studios space.
From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2022
And that was "Wednesday's Worthless Debate" at The Loop, something I just made up.
From Golf Digest • Feb. 28, 2018
Worthless Menby Andrew Cowan The lack of petrol presents the first indication that something has changed.
From The Guardian • Feb. 22, 2013
It was followed two days later by postings on Alfredlittle.com and Seeking Alpha titled "Sino Clean Energy Is a Complete Hoax and Its Shares Are Worthless."
From BusinessWeek • Jun. 16, 2011
Worthless as he was, he was the only company I had on this journey.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
