WORTHLESS

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Morally reprehensible

Example:

a slimy little liar

Synonyms:

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

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

evil (morally bad or wrong)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking in usefulness or value

Example:

a worthless idler

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

chaffy (value)

good-for-naught; good-for-nothing; meritless; no-account; no-count; no-good; sorry (without merit; of little or no value or use)

manky (inferior and worthless)

negligible; paltry; trifling (not worth considering)

nugatory (of no real value)

otiose; pointless; purposeless; senseless; superfluous; wasted (serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being)

rubbishy; trashy (cheap and inferior; of no value)

tinpot (inferior (especially of a country's leadership))

valueless (of no value)

Also:

unworthy (lacking in value or merit)

Antonym:

valuable (having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange)

Derivation:

worthlessness (having no qualities that would render it valuable or useful)

Credits

Context examples:

Had I forgotten her? or was I so worthless as to have grown tired of her pure society?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Worthless, damaged, defective, superfluous or effluent material from industrial operations.

(Industrial Waste, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

I thought you a broken toy that had lasted its time; a worthless spangle that was tarnished, and thrown away.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husband might then have rested in its proper place.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

"Any ignoramus can hand down his worthless memory by imposing it upon a mountain or a river. I need no such monument."

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had abhorred as the most worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite of all his faults, excited a degree of commiseration for the sufferings produced by them, which made her think of him as now separated for ever from her family, with a tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she soon acknowledged within herself—to his wishes than to his merits.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

It would be sunk into a badge of disgrace; for what can be more unbecoming, or more worthless, than the uniform of a lieutenant, who has been a lieutenant a year or two, and sees others made commanders before him?

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

All your experience of men and things is worthless here.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Fresh batches of Hudson Bay dogs were to take the places of those worthless for the trail.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

I don't wish to throw away my time and trouble on an offering you would deem worthless.