adjective
Uncommon
unworthy
uhn-WTHEE
Unworthy (adjective) means not deserving respect, attention, or a particular honor. Example: “He felt unworthy of the award after so many others had worked harder.”
adjective
1
Not deserving respect, attention, or a particular honor.
"He felt unworthy of the award after so many others had worked harder."
"The claim was dismissed as unworthy of further investigation."
How to use unworthy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot good enough or deserving enough for something.
Common pairings
unworthy of
feel unworthy
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Word forms
- Plural
- unworthies
- Comparative
- unworthier
- Superlative
- unworthiest
Fill the gap
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He felt _____ of the award after so many others had worked harder.
Etymology
From Middle English unworthy, from un- (\"not\") plus worthy.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for unworthy
See all rhymes for unworthy →Frequently asked questions
What does “unworthy” mean?
The word “unworthy” means not deserving respect, attention, or a particular honor. In plain terms, not good enough or deserving enough for something.
How do you pronounce “unworthy”?
“Unworthy” is pronounced uhn-WTHEE (/ʌnˈwɝði/ in IPA).
How do you use “unworthy” in a sentence?
Here is “unworthy” used in a sentence: “He felt unworthy of the award after so many others had worked harder.”
What part of speech is “unworthy”?
“Unworthy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “unworthy” come from?
The word “unworthy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English unworthy, from un- (\"not\") plus worthy.
Is “unworthy” a common word?
“Unworthy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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