Standard Lemma guide

unworthiness

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The characteristic or condition of being unworthy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the quality of being not particularly suitable or befitting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he retracted nothing that he had said about the inappropriateness of either a corporeal God or a God who is a person
  • his praise released from her loud protestations of her unworthiness

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inappropriateness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: unsuitability, unsuitableness, ineptness

Narrower terms: inaptness, inappositeness, infelicity

3

noun

Meaning 3

the quality or state of lacking merit or value

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: worthiness

Broader terms: bad, badness

Narrower terms: baseness, sordidness, contemptibility, despicableness, despicability, shamefulness, disgracefulness, ignominiousness

History

Etymology

From Middle English unworthynesse; equivalent to unworthy + -ness or un- + worthiness.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: indignitat — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • French: indignité — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Greek: αναξιότητα (anaxiótita) — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Greek: αναξιοσύνη (anaxiosýni) — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Hindi: अपात्रता (apātratā) — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Hindi: अयोग्यता (ayogyatā) — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Italian: indegnità — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Japanese: 不肖 (fushō) — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Latin: indignitās — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Ligurian: indegnitæ — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Macedonian: недостојност (nedostojnost) — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Manx: neufeeuid — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Portuguese: indignidade — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy
  • Spanish: indignidad — the characteristic or condition of being unworthy