Definition

Noun: 1. The quality of being without practical use or value: The state or condition of having no worth, usefulness, or importance. 2. The state of having no qualities that would render it valuable or useful: A complete lack of merit, significance, or desirability.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The worthlessness of the broken tool was evident to everyone. (The broken tool clearly had no practical use or value.)
  • He struggled with feelings of worthlessness after losing his job. (He experienced strong emotions of having no value or significance.)
  • The report exposed the utter worthlessness of the counterfeit certificates. (The report revealed the complete lack of value in the fake certificates.)

Advanced Usage

• "to prove the worthlessness of something": to demonstrate that something has no value or use.
  • The experiment proved the worthlessness of the old theory.
• "a sense of worthlessness": a psychological feeling of having no personal value or importance.
  • The constant criticism gave her a deep sense of worthlessness.

Variants and Related Words

• Worthless (adj): Having no real value or use.
  • The contract was declared worthless.
• Worth (n): The value or usefulness of something.
  • The worth of this painting is incalculable.

Synonyms

• Uselessness: The state of being of no use.
• Futility: The quality of being incapable of producing any useful result; pointlessness.
• Inutility: Formal term for uselessness.

Antonyms

• Value: The importance, worth, or usefulness of something.
• Usefulness: The quality of being of practical use.
• Worth: The level at which someone or something deserves to be valued.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Feeling of worthlessness: A common symptom in depression and other mental health conditions, describing a persistent belief that one has no value.
• Intrinsic worthlessness: The idea that something is valueless in and of itself, regardless of external circumstances.

Noun

1. the quality of being without practical use
2. having no qualities that would render it valuable or useful
   • the drill sergeant's intent was to convince all the recruits of their worthlessness