worthless

adjective

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

Example Sentences

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 That’s not the case here, some hedge-fund managers say, noting Credit Suisse’s stock would likely be worthless without the UBS offer. Ben Dummett, WSJ, 20 Mar. 2023 Then the miner’s investment, both the machines and the digital assets accumulated, would be worthless. David B. Black, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023 During the same meeting, Musk expressed fear that advances in AI would outpace the work being done at Neuralink, rendering the company’s efforts worthless. Ashlee Vance, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2022 These are older Americans whose homes are now worthless, who have been abandoned by their government because the Biden administration is unwilling to force a tribe to the negotiating table. Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 8 Mar. 2023 Yet other residents wonder: Will their homes now be worthless? Scott Dance And Justine Mcdaniel, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Feb. 2023 While the Bureau of Reclamation is unlikely to adopt the six-state proposal, which almost certainly would mean litigation from California, Koebele said that doesn’t mean the plan is worthless. Ian Jamesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2023 This is not to imply in any way that electric vehicles are worthless. IEEE Spectrum, 28 Jan. 2023 The Terra-Luna ecosystem became basically worthless, and Do Kwon is wanted by the South Korean police. Andrew R. Chow, Time, 27 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'worthless.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Dictionary Entries Near worthless

Cite this Entry

“Worthless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worthless. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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