Worthless: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ’ฉ
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worthless

 

[ หˆwษœหrฮธlษ™s ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling of self-worth

Having no real value or use; without merit; useless. Worthless is often used to describe something or someone that is considered insignificant or unimportant.

Synonyms

insignificant, unimportant, useless, valueless.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
worthless

Use this word when describing something that has no value or benefits at all. It often has a negative connotation and is used to express strong disapproval or disappointment.

  • He felt like all his efforts were worthless after the project was canceled.
  • The broken machine is completely worthless now.
useless

Choose this word when talking about something that has no practical use or function. It often has a negative connotation similar to 'worthless'.

  • This old phone is useless since it doesnโ€™t turn on anymore.
  • He felt useless because he couldnโ€™t help his friends.
valueless

Best used when referring to something that has no worth, especially in terms of monetary value or significance. It has a slightly formal tone.

  • The old currency became valueless after the country switched to a new one.
  • These empty boxes are completely valueless.
unimportant

This word is used to describe something that does not have much significance or influence. It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

  • The details of the meeting are unimportant; focus on the main points.
  • For him, what others think is unimportant.
insignificant

This word is suitable for describing something that is too small or unimportant to be worth consideration. It is less harsh than 'worthless'.

  • The amount of money we saved was insignificant compared to our overall goal.
  • In the grand scheme of things, her mistake was insignificant.

Examples of usage

  • He felt worthless after failing the exam.
  • The broken watch was worthless and could not be repaired.
Context #2 | Adjective

monetary value

Not having monetary value; not worth any money. Something that is worthless in terms of money.

Synonyms

cheap, insignificant, unvaluable, valueless.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
worthless

Used to describe something that has no value or worth, often in a very negative sense.

  • The old phone is now worthless due to its broken screen
  • His promises turned out to be worthless
valueless

Used to describe something that has no worth, similar to 'worthless' but slightly less common.

  • After the new regulations, the old contracts became valueless
  • The currency was declared valueless after the economic collapse
insignificant

Used to describe something that is too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.

  • The scratch on the car is insignificant
  • His contribution to the project was insignificant
cheap

Used to describe something that is low in price or quality. Can have a slightly negative connotation if it implies low quality.

  • I bought a cheap pair of sunglasses
  • The fabric felt cheap and not durable
unvaluable

Less commonly used, it can describe something that does not have value or is not worthy of consideration.

  • The trinket was unvaluable in monetary terms
  • The document was unvaluable for the research

Examples of usage

  • The old coins in his collection turned out to be worthless.
  • The damaged painting was declared worthless by the appraiser.

Translations

Translations of the word "worthless" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น inรบtil

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเฅ‡เค•เคพเคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช wertlos

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ tak berharga

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝะตะบะพั€ะธัะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ bezwartoล›ciowy

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ไพกๅ€คใฎใชใ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท sans valeur

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sin valor

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท deฤŸersiz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฐ€์น˜ ์—†๋Š”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนุฏูŠู… ุงู„ู‚ูŠู…ุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bezcennรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ bezcennรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ— ไปทๅ€ผ็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ neuporaben

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ verรฐlaus

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›าฑะฝัั‹ะท

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฃแƒ›แƒœแƒ˜แƒจแƒ•แƒœแƒ”แƒšแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dษ™yษ™rsiz

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ sin valor

Etymology

The word 'worthless' originated from the Middle English word 'worthles' which meant 'having no value'. The suffix -less is used to indicate the absence of something. Over time, the word evolved to its current form 'worthless', which is commonly used to describe something of little or no value.

See also: unworthily, unworthy, worth, worthiness, worthlessness, worthwhile, worthy.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,460 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.