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Worthy

adj. thoughtful, kind formal

What it means

Meaning 1

Deserving respect, attention, support, or effort.

Reach for it when endorsing a person, cause, or proposal under a clear and humane standard

Affordable legal help is a worthy use of the fund.

Meaning 2

Showing admirable character or quality.

Reach for it when praising conduct that lives up to an entrusted role or ideal

Her worthy response admitted the error and repaired the unpaid invoice.

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
literary

Meaning 1: Deserving respect, attention, support, or effort.

  • everyday

    important

    Fits when consequences justify attention

    Careful Important things can be harmful or urgent without being worthy.

  • professional

    deserving

    Fits when entitlement to recognition or support is the direct claim

    Careful Deserving can turn rights or care into moral rewards.

  • formal

    commendable

    Fits when a specific action merits praise

    Careful Commendable evaluates conduct, not whether a cause deserves resources.

  • formal

    meritorious

    Fits when achievement or conduct earns formal credit

    Careful Meritorious is narrower and more bureaucratic than worthy.

Meaning 2: Showing admirable character or quality.

  • warm

    admirable

    Fits when positive regard for a quality or action is natural

    Careful Admiration can focus on skill while missing moral worthiness.

  • warm

    upstanding

    Fits when consistent decent character should sound personal

    Careful Upstanding is person-focused and can sound old-fashioned or socially conformist.

  • formal

    honorable

    Fits when integrity and ethical conduct are central

    Careful Honorable can invoke status codes and is stronger than generally worthy behavior.

  • literary

    noble

    Fits when selfless moral purpose is genuinely exceptional

    Careful Noble is grander and can romanticize ordinary decency.

Opposites 4

  • unworthy
  • undeserving
  • dishonorable
  • shameful

Common phrases 3

  • worthy cause

    Safe housing is a worthy cause, but the plan still needs accountable spending.

  • worthy recipient

    Every worthy recipient was assessed under the same published criteria.

  • worthy example

    Her transparent correction is a worthy example of responsible leadership.

Word family 2

Usage notes

Keep in mind

Do not apply worthy or unworthy to determine who receives basic dignity, rights, or urgent care.

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