worthiness

W4O1R1T1H4I1N1E1S1S1
/ˈwɜː(ɹ)ðɪnəs/

noun

The state or quality of having value or merit.

Opposite
unworthiness
OriginMiddle English worthynesse →
Less commonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounworthiness (countable and uncountable, plural worthinesses)

plural worthinesses · alternative obsolete worthynesse

  1. uncountableThe state or quality of having value or merit.

    But, unlike the generality of her age, love now occupied no place in the future. How could she ever believe in the worthiness of any one? or, if she believed, it could never so interest her again.

    1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter I, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, pages 15-16
  2. countableThe result or product of having value or merit.
  3. uncountableThe state or quality of being qualified or eligible.
  4. countableThe result or product of being qualified or eligible.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe quality or state of having merit or value

Opposite
unworthiness
Broader
goodgoodness
Also see
dignityworthwhileness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishworthynesse
  2. Englishworthiness

From Middle English worthynesse, equivalent to worthy + -ness.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Esperanto indeco
  • indecoworthiness
Hindi पात्रता
  • पात्रता (pātratā)worthiness
Indonesian kelayakan, kelaikan
  • kelayakanworthiness
  • kelaikanworthiness
Latin prōmerēntia
  • prōmerēntiaworthiness
Malay kebolehpercayaan
  • kebolehpercayaanworthiness
Cite this entry
APA

worthiness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/worthiness

MLA

“worthiness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/worthiness. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “worthiness,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/worthiness.

Source: worthiness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.