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

The fact that so many unworthy players went so far is simply too damning. 37. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

Christie’s argument was pretty straightforward: Trump was a criminal unworthy of returning to power. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024

Others will caution against risking the fragile quiet, dismissing violations as minor provocations unworthy of escalation. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024

When emotional needs are neglected, children often feel disconnected and unworthy of love, which can trickle down into later relationships. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 26 Nov. 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