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Worthiness

n. thoughtful, kind formal

What it means

The quality of deserving respect, attention, support, or trust under a stated standard.

Reach for it when assessing a proposal or action while keeping human dignity outside merit tests

The panel judged each proposal's worthiness by evidence, reach, and repairability.

Words to choose between 7

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
warm
professional
formal

  • everyday

    value

    Fits when importance or usefulness is the main consideration

    Careful Value can be economic and does not say what deserves moral respect.

  • warm

    integrity

    Fits when moral consistency is the basis for trust

    Careful Integrity is one possible ground for worthiness, not the whole quality.

  • professional

    credibility

    Fits when a claim or source deserves belief

    Careful Credibility concerns trust in truth, not broader worthiness of support.

  • professional

    fitness

    Fits when suitability for a role or purpose is being assessed

    Careful Fitness is narrower and can be inaccessible or discriminatory if criteria are poorly chosen.

  • professional

    merit

    Fits when specific strengths justify approval or selection

    Careful Merit depends on criteria and should not be confused with inherent human worth.

  • formal

    deservingness

    Fits when entitlement to a response is the explicit question

    Careful Deservingness can sound moralizing and is often the wrong frame for rights or basic needs.

  • formal

    excellence

    Fits when unusually high quality earns distinction

    Careful Excellence is a stronger performance claim than simple worthiness.

Opposites 3

  • unworthiness
  • unsuitability
  • disqualification

Common phrases 3

  • prove worthiness

    No patient should have to prove worthiness before receiving urgent care.

  • worthiness of a proposal

    The worthiness of a proposal depends on who benefits and who bears the risk.

  • judge worthiness

    Reviewers judge worthiness against published criteria rather than prestige.

Word family 2

Usage notes

Keep in mind

Use worthiness for choices, conduct, or entrusted roles. Basic rights, care, and human dignity should not depend on proving worthiness.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated