unworthy

adjective

un·​wor·​thy ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hē How to pronounce unworthy (audio)
1
a
: lacking in excellence or value : poor, worthless
2
: not meritorious : undeserving
unworthy of attention
3
: not deserved : unmerited
unworthy treatment
4
: inappropriate to one's condition or station
actions unworthy of a gentleman
unworthily adverb
unworthiness noun

Examples of unworthy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Untalented speechwriters produce such rubbish; unworthy politicians proclaim it. George F. Will, Washington Post, 15 July 2024 So, too, do observations Sedaris makes when he is dismissed as an outsider, unworthy of attention, unless about Trump or school shootings. Peter D. Kramer, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024 Ben chose to stay behind, feeling unworthy of doing so just yet. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024 Research published in the Journal of Personality suggests that more than missing the actual person, a fear of being single or feeling unworthy of love can drive this type of longing. Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unworthy 

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of unworthy was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near unworthy

Cite this Entry

“Unworthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unworthy. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

unworthy

adjective
un·​wor·​thy ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hē How to pronounce unworthy (audio)
ˈən-
: lacking in excellence or worth : undeserving
unworthily adverb
unworthiness noun

Legal Definition

unworthy

adjective
un·​wor·​thy
: not meritorious
specifically, in the civil law of Louisiana : being or relating to an heir who is deprived of the right to inherit from a person because of a failure in a duty towards the person
unworthiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unworthy

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