worthless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worthless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has no value or is not useful in a particular context. Example: "After the project failed, the team felt that their efforts were ultimately worthless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Axact employees operating a boiler room-style operation also allegedly posed as US officials to bully potential customers into paying thousands of dollars for worthless accreditation.

The Guardian

A global deal to cut carbon emissions at a crunch UN summit in December could leave some fossil fuel reserves unburnable and worthless.

The Guardian

In January 2012, tired of managers telling them that they were worthless, replaceable and could be fired at any time, the workers – led by López – decided that it was time to do something to change their situation.

The Guardian - Business

The campaign also argues many fossil fuel assets could become worthless if the world's governments act to curb global warming, a risk taken seriously by the World Bank and the Bank of England.

The Guardian

The result, all the way up from sub-prime mortgages to the bond market itself, was that the system was awash with financial products which were massively overvalued, all guaranteed by what were, in the end, equally worthless ratings.

The Guardian - Opinion

Those grants and loans line the already fat pockets of executives and investors at the expense of students who get worthless degrees and stuck in a debt trap, bound by compound interest.

The Guardian - Opinion

The report claims Stefanoni ignored international DNA protocols, made basic errors and gave evidence in court that was not backed up by her laboratory work, rendering the knife and bra strap worthless as evidence.

The Guardian

"The Great Barrier Reef is priceless but it is being treated like it's a worthless.

The Guardian

5.03pm: National primary polls are pretty worthless at this point but even so, Gallup finds Rick Santorum getting a very big boost from his Iowa near-win: Gallup interviewing Wednesday and Thursday night – after Santorum's strong showing in Iowa – shows his support at 21%, up significantly from where he was last month.

The Guardian

When Gerry Goffin first heard Bob Dylan, he was so affected that he binned all of his old tapes and acetates, considering everything he had ever written to be trite and worthless.

The Guardian - Music

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 12.09pm BST12 09 Miliband has said the president of the Royal Society has said these assurances are worthless.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "worthless", ensure the context clearly indicates what standard of value is being applied. For instance, something might be financially "worthless" but emotionally valuable.

Common error

Avoid using "worthless" to describe people or their efforts without careful consideration, as it can be perceived as harsh and demeaning. Consider softer alternatives like "ineffective" or "unproductive".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "worthless" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something lacking value, importance, or utility. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, aligning with its adjectival role and the descriptions provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "worthless" is an adjective denoting a lack of value or utility. It is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the word's validity and usability. While generally neutral, it's important to use "worthless" carefully, especially in emotional contexts, to avoid being overly harsh. Consider alternatives like "without value" or "insignificant" depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without value

Emphasizes the absence of monetary or material worth.

of no use

Focuses on the lack of practical application or utility.

valueless

Highlights the absence of any significant worth or importance.

inconsequential

Indicates a lack of importance or significance in a particular context.

insignificant

Similar to inconsequential, but can also imply a small size or amount.

unimportant

Directly states the lack of importance.

meaningless

Implies a lack of purpose or significance.

futile

Highlights the lack of success or achievement despite effort.

pointless

Similar to meaningless, but often implies a waste of time or effort.

otiose

Suggests redundancy or superfluity, often in a formal or literary context.

FAQs

How can I use "worthless" in a sentence?

You can use "worthless" to describe something that has no value or usefulness, as in, "The old car was now considered worthless." or "The assurances turned out to be worthless."

What can I say instead of "worthless"?

You can use alternatives like "without value", "valueless", or "insignificant" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "worthless"?

It's appropriate when describing something that lacks tangible or intangible value. Use with caution when referring to people; consider alternatives that focus on actions or results rather than intrinsic worth.

Is "worthless" the same as "useless"?

"Worthless" implies a lack of value, while "useless" indicates an inability to perform a function. Something can be "useless" but still have sentimental value, and therefore not be "worthless".