not worth the candle

phrase

Definition of not worth the candlenext

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of not worth the candle Often, however, the problems run deeper, and the United States must recognize that the game is simply not worth the candle. Mara Karlin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for not worth the candle
in vain
Phrase
  • Doesn't the drone have cameras or sensors to detect when someone is trying in vain to retrieve the payload?
    Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • But this has a different texture, in large part because of the four decades the 76ers have toiled, in vain, to win it all again.
    David Aldridge, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Not worth the candle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/not%20worth%20the%20candle. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster