unworthy

adjective

un·​wor·​thy ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hē 

1

a

: lacking in excellence or value : poor, worthless

b

: base, dishonorable

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

ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hə-lē 

adverb

unworthiness

ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hē-nəs 

noun

Examples of unworthy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

unworthy

adjective

un·​wor·​thy ˌən-ˈwər-t͟hē 

ˈən-

: lacking in excellence or worth : undeserving

unworthily

-t͟hə-lē 

adverb

unworthiness

-t͟hē-nəs 

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