deserved

[dih-zurvd]

See more synonyms for deserved on Thesaurus.com

adjective

justly or rightly earned; merited: a deserved increase in salary.

Origin of deserved

First recorded in 1545–55; deserve + -ed²

Related formsde·serv·ed·ness

[dih-zur-vid-nis] /dɪˈzɜr vɪd nɪs/, nounhalf-de·served, adjectivehalf-de·serv·ed·ness, nounun·de·served, adjectivewell-de·served, adjective

deserve

[dih-zurv]

verb (used with object), de·served, de·serv·ing.

to merit, be qualified for, or have a claim to (reward, assistance, punishment, etc.) because of actions, qualities, or situation: to deserve exile; to deserve charity; a theory that deserves consideration.

verb (used without object), de·served, de·serv·ing.

to be worthy of, qualified for, or have a claim to reward, punishment, recompense, etc.: to reward him as he deserves; an idea deserving of study.

Origin of deserve

1250–1300; Middle English deserven < Anglo-French, Old French deservir, Latin dēservīre to devote oneself to the service of, equivalent to dē- de- + servīre to serve

Related formsde·serv·er, nounpre·de·serve, verb (used with object), pre·de·served, pre·de·serv·ing.

Synonyms for deserve

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1. rate, warrant, justify.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for deserved

proper, rightful, right, fit, appropriate, warranted, fitting, justified, due, equitable, just, suitable

Examples from the Web for deserved

Contemporary Examples of deserved

But this was the year when criticism of said women finally got the harsh words it deserved.
Renée Zellweger Got a New Face—and Everyone Had An Opinion About It
Kevin O’Keeffe
December 29, 2014
He wrote that he deserved to die and alluded to a ominous plan that he had backed out of twice already.
School Shooters Love This Pickup Artist Website
Brandy Zadrozny
December 5, 2014
This much-vaunted turnout operation turns out not to have deserved much vaunt.
Inside the Democrats’ Godawful Midterm Election Wipeout
Michael Tomasky
November 5, 2014
We loved Zellweger as Bridget Jones for owning her weight, finding love, and never settling for less than she deserved.
Renee Zellweger's Face Gets More Medical Scrutiny Than Ebola
Emily Shire
October 21, 2014
But in this case a very non-wiki-like dispute erupted over who deserved the most credit.
You Can Look It Up: The Wikipedia Story
Walter Isaacson
October 19, 2014

Historical Examples of deserved

You have never been put to a test till now, that deserved to be called a test.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
Well had he deserved his native name of Bwana Nyele--the master with the mane.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White
In their hearts they knew that I deserved all these epithets.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
The remainder of his life was a series of deserved afflictions.
The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson
Robert Southey
He had only given me back the hand I had not deserved he should touch.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for deserved

deserve

verb

(tr) to be entitled to or worthy of; merit
(intr foll by of) obsolete to be worthy

Derived Formsdeserved, adjectivedeservedness (dɪˈzɜːvɪdnɪs), noundeserver, noun

Word Origin for deserve

C13: from Old French deservir, from Latin dēservīre to serve devotedly, from de- + servīre to serve

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for deserved

deserve

early 13c., from Old French deservir (Modern French desservir) "deserve, be worthy of, earn, merit," from Latin deservire "serve well," from de- "completely" (see de-) + servire "to serve" (see serve). From "be entitled to because of good service" (a sense found in Late Latin), meaning generalized c.1300 to "be worthy of." Related: Deserved; deserving.

Idioms and Phrases with deserved

deserve

see one good turn deserves another.