worthless

[wurth-lis] / ˈwɜrθ lɪs /

ADJECTIVE

of no use; without value

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barren bogus futile inconsequential ineffective insignificant meaningless mediocre pointless unimportant unproductive unprofitable unusable useless

WEAK

abandoned abject base cheap contemptible counterproductive despicable empty good-for-nothing ignoble ineffectual inferior inutile miserable no-account no-good nothing nugatory paltry poor profitless sterile trashy trifling trivial unavailing unessential valueless waste wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

beneficial fruitful helpful important meaningful productive profitable significant useful valuable worthwhile

WEAK

worthy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When Montaclair defended himself, he said making up a worthless award is not in itself against the law, and it was local media who had described it as a Nobel.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

President Eisenhower was known to say that plans are worthless, but planning is everything.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

They can expire worthless, and investors inexperienced with trading them should treat them with caution.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

"If people have no assets then these judgments are worthless because they have nothing to enforce them against. You are just taking them through an exercise of further suffering."

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Then, unbidden, the last words she’d spoken to him came back to him: We can hope—after she'd told him hope was worthless.

From "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Vocabulary lists containing worthless

Power Suffix: -less

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Good Riddance

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!