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.

Medicines can stop pain, fight cancer and save lives but are worthless if they get lost in the mail, spoil in a hot warehouse or are stuck on a ship.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 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

Saber-rattling trumpet and timpani intrude and are shushed away as worthless.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

He’d gotten better at this, but for days he’d been almost worthless.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Vocabulary lists containing worthless

Power Suffix: -less

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