worthless

adjective

worth·​less ˈwərth-ləs 

1

a

: lacking worth : valueless

worthless currency

b

: useless

worthless to continue searching

2

: contemptible, despicable

a worthless criminal

worthlessly adverb

worthlessness noun

Synonyms

• empty
• valueless
• cheap
• flawed
• no-good
• vain

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

That support helped plenty, but would have been worthless without serious drive and hard work, as well as Navarro’s two years at the University of Virginia. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2025

Anything less than a total social reckoning—a complete psychological makeover of white America—was worthless. —Book Marks august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025

After the fourth repair, Subaru tried to help by offering you a cash settlement of $3,000, but that would have still left you with a worthless vehicle. —Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025

Greenwashing is controversial, with clubs sometimes hiding behind worthless carbon credits or offsetting emissions to make claims of climate leadership rather than seeking ways to actually reduce their emissions. —Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

worthless

adjective

worth·​less ˈwərth-ləs 

1

a

: lacking worth : valueless

b

: useless

worthless to continue searching

2

: deserving of hatred or pity

a worthless coward

worthlessly adverb

worthlessness noun