worthless

adjective

worth·​less ˈwərth-ləs How to pronounce worthless (audio)
Synonyms of worthlessnext
1
a
: lacking worth : valueless
worthless currency
b
: useless
worthless to continue searching
2
: contemptible, despicable
a worthless criminal
worthlessly adverb
worthlessness noun

Synonyms of worthless

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Examples of worthless in a Sentence

The boots may be nice, but they're worthless if they don't fit you. She's depressed and believes that she's worthless.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Even the most popular espresso machines will be practically worthless to someone who doesn't drink coffee, for example. — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026 Second, the hacker had ignored valuable data on Hugging Face’s servers in search of worthless answers to a test. — Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 30 July 2026 On top of that, his degree from a for-profit college - which was later sued over alleged deception - seemed worthless. — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 30 July 2026 Are the things left uncaptured by the camera worthless to a movie? — Zachary Lee, IndieWire, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for worthless

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of worthless was circa 1577

Browse Nearby Words

Worth, Lake
worthless
worth one's salt
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Worthless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worthless. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

worthless

adjective
worth·​less ˈwərth-ləs How to pronounce worthless (audio)
1
a
: lacking worth : valueless
b
: useless
worthless to continue searching
2
: deserving of hatred or pity
a worthless coward
worthlessly adverb
worthlessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on worthless

Nglish: Translation of worthless for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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