worthy

[ wur-thee ]

/ ˈwɜr ði /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR worthy ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, wor·thi·er, wor·thi·est.

having adequate or great merit, character, or value: a worthy successor.

of commendable excellence or merit; deserving: a book worthy of praise; a person worthy to lead.

noun, plural wor·thies.

a person of eminent worth, merit, or position: The town worthies included two doctors.

Nearby words

Origin of worthy

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at worth¹, -y¹

SYNONYMS FOR worthy

2. meritorious, worthwhile, estimable, excellent, exemplary, righteous, upright, honorable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR worthy ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

wor·thi·ly, adverbwor·thi·ness, nounpre·wor·thi·ly, adverbpre·wor·thi·ness, noun

pre·wor·thy, adjective

-worthy

a combining form of worthy, occurring in adjectives that have the general sense “deserving of, fit for” (blameworthy; newsworthy; noteworthy; trustworthy), “capable of travel in or on” (airworthy; roadworthy; seaworthy), as specified by the first word of the compound.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for worthy

Dear Thief is worthy of the abused critical adjectives philosophical, atmospheric, and masterful.
A Novel Nearly Impossible to Review|Nicholas Mancusi|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But there were moments of expected genius on it worthy of Grammy consideration.
10 Biggest Grammy Award Snubs and Surprises: Meghan Trainor, Miley Cyrus & More|Kevin Fallon|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Political or not, shown in New York or Budapest, it is a worthy achievement composed with taste and subtlety.
In Hands of Hungarian Artist, Jewish Home Movies of the ’30s a Warning of Coming Holocaust|Daniel Genis|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Well known for his inability to say no to worthy causes, Palmer has always been a whirlwind of good works.
Will the Real Jim Palmer Please Stand Up|Tom Boswell|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Here, other women putter with practical cotton plaids, worthy of a school uniform.
Best Career Arc Ever: From Burlesque To Bartending|Anne Berry|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Coffee succeeded—coffee made in the empty vegetable tin, and worthy of Maxim's or the Ritz.
The Pursuit|Frank (Frank Mackenzie) Savile
He was ambitious to know the will of God and to be worthy of Divine approbation.
Wilford Woodruff|Matthias F. Cowley
What could she say to her own parents which would meet the case or would be worthy of such a conspiracy?
Catharine Furze|Mark Rutherford
The three were of opinion that each should join with him the Persians whom he counted most worthy of confidence.
The History of Antiquity|Max Duncker
Madame de la Baudraye loved Etienne so truly, that this prudence, worthy of de Clagny, gratified her and stanched her tears.
Parisians in the Country|Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for worthy

worthy

/ (ˈwɜːðɪ) /

adjective -thier or -thiest

(postpositive; often foll by of or an infinitive) having sufficient merit or value (for something or someone specified); deserving

having worth, value, or merit

noun plural -thies

often facetious a person of distinguished character, merit, or importance

Derived Formsworthily, adverbworthiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for worthy

worthy

adj.

mid-13c., "having merit," from worth (n.) + -y (2). Old English had weorþful in this sense. Attested from c.1300 as a noun meaning "person of merit" (especially in Nine Worthies, famous men of history and legend: Joshua, David, Judas Maccabæus, Hector, Alexander, Julius Cæsar, Arthur, Charlemagne, Godfrey of Bouillon -- three Jews, three gentiles, three Christians).