worthy

Worthy is an English adjective used to describe someone or something that earns respect, admiration, or deserves a particular treatment or consideration. It denotes merit, fitness for a role, or deserving a certain outcome. In common usage, worthy often appears with the preposition of, as in worthy of praise, worthy of note, or worthy of respect, and with nouns such as a worthy opponent or a worthy cause. It can also describe suitability or significance, as in a worthy investment or a worthy successor.

Origin and related forms: Worthy derives from Old English wurþig meaning "worthy, deserving," from Proto-Germanic *wurþaz, related to worth. The negative form is unworthy. The noun form is worthiness, and the related noun worth describes value in monetary or perceived terms. Synonyms include meritorious, commendable, deserving, and respectable, depending on context.

Usage notes: Worthy tends to occur in formal or literary contexts, though it remains common in everyday writing and speech. It is not a blanket intensifier like very; rather, it conveys merit or suitability. In contemporary usage, speakers choose worthy to emphasize virtue, importance, or deservingness, and they often pair it with phrases such as “worthy of” or “worthy of consideration.”

Examples: “She gave a worthy performance,” “The proposal is worthy of discussion,” and “A worthy cause.” In contrast, unworthy signals the opposite of merit or respect.