unworthiness
Not deserving recognition
Unworthiness is the state of not deserving something—respect, love, an honor, or a position.
The word often describes an internal feeling rather than an objective judgment: She struggled with feelings of unworthiness despite her accomplishments.
Religious contexts speak of human unworthiness before God.
The term can also describe something that falls below expected standards: the unworthiness of the candidate for such high office.
Loss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- dishonorLoss of respect
- stigmaMark of dishonor
mortification · self-loathing · degradation · abasement · ignominy · disrepute · contempt · scorn
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- regretSorrow over past actions
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
self-condemnation · confession · repentance · culpability · compunction · penance · atonement · mea culpa
Uncertainty about oneself
- self-criticismJudging one's own failings
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- diffidenceModest self-distrust
self-consciousness · questioning · timidity · vulnerability · apprehension · nervousness · overthinking · rumination
Lack of something needed
- insufficiencyShortfall in amount needed
- shortcomingA fault or weakness
- incompetenceLack of required skill
- ineptitudeLack of ability
incapability · unsuitability · disqualification · ineffectiveness · uselessness · unfitness · unqualified · inept
humiliation
Loss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- dishonorLoss of respect
stigma · mortification · self-loathing · degradation · abasement · ignominy · disrepute · contempt · scorn · reproach
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
- regretSorrow over past actions
self-reproach · self-condemnation · confession · repentance · culpability · compunction · penance · atonement · mea culpa · undeserving
insecurity
Uncertainty about oneself
- self-criticismJudging one's own failings
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
diffidence · self-consciousness · questioning · timidity · vulnerability · apprehension · nervousness · overthinking · rumination · second-guessing
deficiency
Lack of something needed
- insufficiencyShortfall in amount needed
- shortcomingA fault or weakness
- incompetenceLack of required skill
ineptitude · incapability · unsuitability · disqualification · ineffectiveness · uselessness · unfitness · unqualified · inept · incapable
- insecuritiesinsecurity, self-doubt, low self-esteem, inadequacy, inferiority
- self-doubtinsecurity, inadequacy, low self-esteem, self-criticism, self-doubt
- self-loathingself-hatred, self-loathing, self-contempt, self-disgust, self-abasement
- disgracedishonor, disgrace, downfall, stigma, scandal
- guiltguilty, guilt trip, guilty conscience, remorseful, contrition
- moral emotionsguilt, shame, remorse, moral guilt, conscience
unworthinessworthiness
State of deserving recognition
merit · entitlement · desert · qualification · eligibility
unworthinessvirtue
Moral goodness or merit
righteousness · nobility · integrity · uprightness · honorableness
worth, worst, worthy, worthless, worse, unworthy, worthwhile, worthiness, worthier