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Worth

n. thoughtful, kind warm

What it means

Meaning 1

The value or importance of a person independent of output or status.

Reach for it when affirming inherent dignity without making it conditional on usefulness

A difficult season did nothing to reduce her worth.

Meaning 2

The usefulness, importance, or exchange value of something.

Reach for it when assessing an object, action, or idea against a stated purpose

The trial demonstrated the worth of keeping a manual backup.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
everyday
warm
professional
formal

Meaning 1: The value or importance of a person independent of output or status.

  • everyday

    value

    Fits when importance should be stated broadly

    Careful Value can reduce a person's worth to an economic or conditional judgment.

  • warm

    dignity

    Fits when inherent entitlement to respect is central

    Careful Dignity is not a score or comparison and should not be reduced to practical worth.

  • professional

    significance

    Fits when impact or meaning is the real idea

    Careful Significance can depend on context and does not affirm personal dignity.

  • formal

    merit

    Fits when a contribution or quality deserves recognition

    Careful Merit is earned or assessed, unlike inherent human worth.

Meaning 2: The usefulness, importance, or exchange value of something.

  • everyday

    benefit

    Fits when a positive result should be named

    Careful Benefit is the gain produced, not the broader worth of the method.

  • everyday

    usefulness

    Fits when practical service is the exact test

    Careful Usefulness is instrumental and cannot measure a person's worth.

  • professional

    importance

    Fits when consequences or priority matter more than utility

    Careful Importance can arise from risk or harm and does not always imply positive worth.

  • professional

    value

    Fits when benefit or exchange assessment is needed

    Careful Value may be monetary, while worth can also concern usefulness or importance.

Opposites 4

  • worthlessness
  • devaluation
  • uselessness
  • triviality

Common phrases 4

  • sense of worth

    The mentor strengthened each apprentice's sense of worth without avoiding correction.

  • inherent worth

    Every patient has inherent worth regardless of prognosis or income.

  • prove its worth

    The low-cost sensor will prove its worth only if it remains accurate in winter.

  • worth of the work

    The worth of the work lies in safer homes, not the number of reports.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated