Vladimir Putin is a wordy adversary

Joe Biden who meets with the Russian leader in Geneva tomorrow described Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Brussels as a "worthy adversary". I'm wondering whether he meant to say "wordy" rather than worthy. Worthy seems a bit of an odd choice of word as it implies Putin has merit and is someone whose reputation and record are worthy of due consideration. Unless Biden meant worthy as in a bit of an old bore, in other words slow and tedious. Like a Shakespearian comic worthy. But if he meant to say worthy as in Putin is a leader who is worth dealing with because he is a man of some substance, then it hinted at Biden offering to joust with the Russian leader on equal terms, not amicable but riding along together bare-chested as worthy champions of their different causes and views. I suspect Putin would like that, even if the word is a touch condescending. But if he meant to say wordy that might make more sense because when Putin delivers his annual address to the nation he goes on and on and on. He can speak for hours when he wants to and could drive Biden mad by not allowing him to get a word in edgeways at the summit tomorrow. But then Biden used the old favourite word "adversary". Not quite enemy but not far off. China for example is always referred to as an adversary or potential adversary. Russia is the old enemy, so using the word adversary is kind of one step down but Putin will know what he means. They are, after all, both born with the Cold War in their blood and genes. So Biden is trying to get the best of both worlds. Worthy as in "I respect you, Putin", but also "Watch out sunny Jim, I've got big guns behind me and if you want to play hard ball and go for a scrap then I can show you what the US of A does and can do to adversaries." I'm sticking to my initial interpretation and still think Biden meant to say wordy and then his tongue tripped. So when Putin raises this tomorrow and says Biden is stuck in the Cold War by calling him an adversary, the US president can reply: "Vladimir, Vladimir, you misheard, I said wordy because you do go on you know."