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Showing results for "deserved"
Synonyms

deserved

American  
[dih-zurvd] / dɪˈzɜrvd /

adjective

  1. justly or rightly earned; merited.

    a deserved increase in salary.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of deserved

First recorded in 1545–55; deserve + -ed 2


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

She expresses profound love for the two children she has while regretting that she was forced to become a mother before she could give those children the life she believed they deserved.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

Still, the AI jitters arrived just as Airbnb was persuading investors it deserved its pricey multiple.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

If I believed he deserved affection, did I believe the same about myself?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Joseph then grabbed the try his own performance deserved, diving in to the right of the posts to claim Gloucester's seventh try and third inside 12 minutes after half-time.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Jo’s funny hat deserved a vote of thanks, for it was of general utility.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

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