deserve
verb (used with object)
to merit, be qualified for, or have a claim to (reward, assistance, punishment, etc.) because of actions, qualities, or situation.
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.
In the vague clockwork of industry deservedness, the odds have always favored Paul Thomas Anderson.
From Salon ● Mar. 13, 2026
But deservedness is not all there is in any punishment decision.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2024
To begin with, these critics’ own deservedness is often questionable at best.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 9, 2022
Most often, I feel mere gratitude, sometimes frustrated deservedness.
From Slate ● Nov. 9, 2020
He sees among FAP's chief advances its criterion of simple need rather than employability or "deservedness."
From Time Magazine Archive
