UNWORTHY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does unworthy mean? 

• UNWORTHY (adjective)
  The adjective UNWORTHY has 3 senses:

1. lacking in value or merit

2. not deserving

3. morally reprehensible

  Familiarity information: UNWORTHY used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNWORTHY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking in value or merit

Context example:

unworthy of forgiveness

Similar:

undeserving; unworthy (not deserving)

unmerited (not merited)

unmeritorious (without merit)

Also:

contemptible (deserving of contempt or scorn)

dishonorable; dishonourable (lacking honor or integrity; deserving dishonor)

unrighteous (not righteous)

worthless (lacking in usefulness or value)

Attribute:

worthiness (the quality or state of having merit or value)

Antonym:

worthy (having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable)

Derivation:

unworthiness (the quality or state of lacking merit or value)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not deserving

Synonyms:

undeserving; unworthy

Context example:

the undeserving poor

Similar:

unworthy (lacking in value or merit)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Morally reprehensible

Synonyms:

despicable; slimy; ugly; unworthy; vile; worthless; wretched

Context example:

a slimy little liar

Similar:

evil (morally bad or wrong)

Derivation:

unworthiness (the quality or state of lacking merit or value)

 Context examples 

Her poor mother now did not look so very unworthy of being Lady Bertram's sister as she was but too apt to look.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I pray you, sirs, to honor my unworthy roof so far.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She exerted herself, and did try to make her comfortable, by considering all that had passed as a mere trifle, and quite unworthy of being dwelt on,

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Let me entreat you never to think of him again, my dear Catherine; indeed he is unworthy of you.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I asked, it is true, for greater treasures than a little food or rest: I required kindness and sympathy; but I did not believe myself utterly unworthy of it.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Such a remark is unworthy of you, Holmes.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

No, he is not so unworthy as you believe him.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“I think,” said Agnes, “that the honourable course to take, would be to write to those two ladies. Don't you think that any secret course is an unworthy one?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Mr Elliot had attempted no apology, and shewn himself as unsolicitous of being longer noticed by the family, as Sir Walter considered him unworthy of it: all acquaintance between them had ceased.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Then he dismissed the thought as unworthy and impossible, and yielded himself more freely to the music.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)