worthiness

IPA/ˈwɜːðinəs/
KK[wˈɚðinɪs]IPA/ˈwɜːrðinəs/

worthiness — noun

1. the quality of being good or important enough to earn respect, support, or caref

1.nounC1
Definition

the quality of being good or important enough to earn respect, support, or careful attention.

Example

The charity's worthiness became clear after volunteers saw its work with refugees.

worthiness of a cause or organization

Judges discussed the worthiness of Gita's essay before giving the final prize.

Common collocations
  • question the worthiness of a cause / plan
  • prove worthiness through service
  • worthiness for public support
  • judge the worthiness of an idea
  • show worthiness in action
Synonyms
  • merit

    more direct and common when talking about qualities that justify praise or reward

  • value

    broader; can include usefulness or importance, not only deserving respect

  • virtue

    focuses on a good moral quality rather than the whole judgment

Antonyms
  • unworthiness

    direct opposite; lacking the qualities that deserve respect or support

  • triviality

    used when something does not deserve serious attention because it is too slight

Grammar Patterns

the worthiness of + noun

worthiness for + support/attention

Usage Note

Usually followed by 'of' when judging a person, cause, or idea. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about being right for a role or purpose rather than deserving respect or support.

Common Mistakes

The worthinesses of the two plans were obvious.
The worthiness of the two plans was obvious.
'worthiness' is usually uncountable.
The board questioned his worthiness for the role' when you only mean skill fit.
The board questioned his suitability for the role.
this sense is about merit or deserving respect, not simple fitness for a job.

2. how right a person or thing is for a particular job, role, or use.

2.nounC1
Definition

how right a person or thing is for a particular job, role, or use.

Example

The board checked Daichi's worthiness for the director's job before the vote.

worthiness for a role or job

Engineers tested the bridge's worthiness for heavy trucks after the repairs.

Common collocations
  • assess worthiness for a role / job
  • worthiness as a guide / shelter
  • test worthiness for heavy use
  • question worthiness before appointment
  • compare worthiness for different crops
Synonyms
  • suitability

    the most common everyday word for being right for a role or use

  • fitness

    often used in formal checks of whether someone or something meets a standard

  • appropriateness

    broader; can also describe social or behavioral fit, not only practical use

Antonyms
  • unsuitability

    direct opposite; not right for the role, purpose, or use

  • inadequacy

    emphasizes not meeting the needed standard or level

Grammar Patterns

worthiness for + noun/role

worthiness as + noun

the worthiness of + noun for + noun

Usage Note

Most often followed by 'for' or 'as' in decisions about jobs, roles, or uses. Distinguish from sense 1, which judges moral or practical merit rather than fitness for a task.

Common Mistakes

The panel checked her worthiness of the post.
The panel checked her worthiness for the post.
this sense normally takes 'for' or 'as', not 'of'.
The worthinesses of the rooms for classes were compared.
The worthiness of the rooms for classes was compared.
'worthiness' is usually uncountable here too.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words can describe why something deserves a positive judgment, but they point in different directions. 'Worthiness' is the most formal and often carries a moral or evaluative tone: it asks whether a person, cause, or idea deserves respect, support, or serious attention. 'Merit' is more direct and common, especially when you are weighing reasons for praise or reward. 'Value' is broader and can refer to usefulness, importance, or even money, so it is less focused on deserving respect. 'Importance' only tells you that something matters, not that it is admirable. 'Virtue' points to a good moral quality itself, such as honesty or patience, rather than the overall judgment that something is worthy. Use 'worthiness' when you want that formal sense of earned respect or support.

merit ↗value ↗importance ↗virtue ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • worthiness of a plan
  • worthiness for public support
  • worthiness as a shelter

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The noun 'worthiness' was formed in English by adding the suffix '-ness' to 'worthy'. 'Worthy' comes from Old English 'weorthig', meaning 'having worth or value', from the same root as 'worth'. Over time, 'worthiness' came to name both the quality of deserving respect and, in formal use, the quality of being suitable for a role or purpose.