Word
unworthy
Phoneticsun·wor·thy, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈwɝði/
UK/ʌnwˈɜːði/
Definition
adj. not deserving of respect, attention, or a particular honor. You use this to describe something that is not good enough for a specific person or situation.
adj. lacking in value, merit, or honor; not deserving of a particular status or treatment. Often used to describe actions or thoughts that fall below a person's moral standards.
Examples
“He felt unworthy of the award he received.”
“The politician dismissed the rumors as unworthy of a serious response from his office.”
“She struggled with the persistent feeling that she was unworthy of her success, despite having worked harder than anyone else in the firm.”
Examples
simple
“He felt unworthy of the award he received.”
contextual
“The politician dismissed the rumors as unworthy of a serious response from his office.”
complex
“She struggled with the persistent feeling that she was unworthy of her success, despite having worked harder than anyone else in the firm.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of' and a noun phrase.
Real-World Examples
“And if you think all these words are unworthy of note, the Oxford English Dictionary disagrees with you.” Etymology
From Middle English unworthy, equivalent to un- + worthy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/unworthy