unworthy
/ˌʌnˈwɜːrði/
not deserving of respect or attention
She felt unworthy of the praise she received.
She didn't believe she deserved the praise.
formalinformal
Not deserving of respect, attention, or praise; lacking merit or value.
The artist considered his work unworthy of exhibition.
He thought his art wasn't good enough to be shown.
He felt unworthy to stand before such a distinguished audience.
He didn't feel deserving of being in front of such an important group.
Often used to express humility or self-doubt.
Collocations
feel unworthyto believe you don't deserve somethingunworthy of praisenot deserving of admiration
Pro Tip
Common Usage
This word is often used to describe someone who feels they don't deserve something, such as praise or recognition.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'unworthy,' from Old English 'unweorþ,' meaning 'not worthy.'
Usage Notes
Often used in formal or literary contexts to express humility or self-deprecation.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixworthy
deserving of respect or attention
rootEnglish Dictionary