absolutely worthless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely worthless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something has no value or utility at all. Example: "After reviewing the report, I concluded that the data provided was absolutely worthless for our analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Absolutely worthless.

The Guardian

And her house, Kearney said, is "absolutely worthless". "We can&apos t sell it," she said.

The New York Times

"It's wool that's absolutely worthless to the farmer but not worthless to this," she explains.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's absolutely worthless for anyone trying to build a career in the digital industries.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I have carefully paid into pensions all my life and now feel that they are absolutely worthless," she says.

The Guardian - Money

Google is now absolutely worthless, though it still has all its existing data housed in massive server farms.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Your idea is absolutely, 100% worthless.

HuffPost

"He basically reprogrammed me to make me think that I was just worthless and absolutely nothing".

BBC

But society's historical demeaning of care work as feminine and therefore financially worthless has absolutely nothing to do with the statistics on equal pay, which show that despite the number of hours worked, women do just get paid, per hour, less than men.

Vice

But society's historical demeaning of care work as feminine and therefore financially worthless has absolutely nothing to do with the statistics on equal pay, which show that despite how many hours worked, women do just get paid, per hour, less than men.

Vice

Imagine that this asset has absolutely no danger of becoming worthless, and that its value only increases when the dollar declines.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely worthless" to emphatically express that something has no value, utility, or importance. It's suitable for situations where strong disapproval or dismissal is appropriate.

Common error

While effective for emphasis, avoid using "absolutely worthless" in highly formal or professional settings. Opt for more nuanced and diplomatic phrases like "lacking in value" or "not particularly useful" to maintain a respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absolutely worthless" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. According to Ludwig AI, it serves to emphatically describe something as having no value or use. Examples show it applied to objects, ideas, and even personal feelings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Opinion

20%

General

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absolutely worthless" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something has no value or utility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for a wide range of contexts, although it might be too strong for formal settings. Its communicative purpose is to convey a strong negative assessment, and its usage is most frequent in News & Media and Opinion contexts. When a less emphatic tone is needed, consider alternatives such as "completely without value" or "utterly valueless". In essence, "absolutely worthless" is a powerful tool for expressing disapproval or dismissal when used appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely without value

Emphasizes the total lack of worth, using a more descriptive and literal approach.

utterly valueless

Similar to "absolutely worthless" but uses 'valueless' for a slightly more formal tone.

worthless and meaningless

Combines the lack of value with a lack of deeper significance or purpose.

absolutely pointless

Highlights the lack of purpose or reason, suggesting the action or item serves no useful function.

good for nothing

An expression highlighting the complete lack of utility or positive qualities.

entirely futile

Focuses on the lack of any positive outcome or result, implying that effort is wasted.

totally insignificant

Indicates a lack of importance or consequence, often used in a broader context than just monetary value.

inconsequential

Highlights lack of importance or relevance, implying triviality in a given context.

of no earthly use

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the impracticality and uselessness of something.

not worth a dime

An idiom indicating something has very little monetary value, often used informally.

FAQs

How can I use "absolutely worthless" in a sentence?

You can use "absolutely worthless" to emphasize that something has no value or utility. For example: "The old data was "absolutely worthless" for the new project."

What phrases are similar to "absolutely worthless"?

Alternatives to "absolutely worthless" include "completely without value", "utterly valueless", or "entirely futile". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use the phrase "absolutely worthless"?

While "absolutely worthless" is grammatically correct, it might be too strong for certain formal situations. Consider using a more diplomatic alternative if you need to be respectful or avoid causing offense.

What is the difference between "absolutely worthless" and "relatively worthless"?

"Absolutely worthless" implies that something has no value whatsoever, while "relatively worthless" suggests that something has minimal value compared to something else. The choice depends on whether the item has any redeeming qualities at all.