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.

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

Eisenhower's version was "plans are worthless, but planning is everything."

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Bear Stearns’s funds were leveraged at a 3-to-1 ratio, stuffed with opaque collateralized debt obligations tied to a collapsing housing market, and the assets ultimately proved nearly worthless.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

Omakayas tried to make herself better, to stop dwelling on worthless sadnesses.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

Vocabulary lists containing worthless

Power Suffix: -less

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