worthiness

UK: /ˈwɜːðɪnɪs/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

wor•thy /ˈwɜrði/   adj., -thi•er, -thi•est, n., pl. -thies. 
adj. 

1. having merit, character, or value:
   a worthy opponent.
2. deserving:
   an effort worthy of praise.

n. [countable]

3. a person of worth.

wor•thi•ly /ˈwɜrðəli/  adv. 
wor•thi•ness, n. [uncountable]

-worthy, suffix. 

1. • -worthy is used to form adjectives with the meaning "deserving of, fit for'':
     news + -worthy → newsworthy (= fit for the news);
     trust + -worthy → trustworthy.
   • -worthy is also used with the meaning "capable of travel in or on'':
     road + -worthy → roadworthy (= capable of traveling on the road);
     seaworthy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

wor•thy  (wûr′ᵺē), adj., -thi•er, -thi•est, n., pl. -thies. 
adj. 

1. having adequate or great merit, character, or value:
   a worthy successor.
2. of commendable excellence or merit;
   deserving:
   a book worthy of praise; a person worthy to lead.

n. 

3. a person of eminent worth, merit, or position:
   The town worthies included two doctors.

• 1175–1225; Middle English; see worth¹, -y¹

wor′thi•ly, adv. 
wor′thi•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. meritorious, worthwhile, estimable, excellent, exemplary, righteous, upright, honorable.

-worthy, 

1. a combining form of worthy, occurring in adjectives that have the general sense "deserving of, fit for'' (blameworthy;
   newsworthy;
   noteworthy;
   trustworthy), "capable of travel in or on'' (airworthy;
   roadworthy;
   seaworthy), as specified by the first word of the compound.