deserving
Americanadjective
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qualified for or having a claim to reward, assistance, etc., because of one's actions, qualities, or situation.
the deserving poor;
a deserving applicant.
-
meriting; worthy.
a criminal deserving of a lifetime sentence.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of deserving
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.
Perhaps, though, you think SpaceX is deserving of a stratospheric valuation.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
Mandatory challengers are enforced on a rotating basis between sanctioning bodies, and next in line is WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel - widely viewed as the most deserving contender yet to receive his opportunity.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
But her lead performance in “Little Bear Ridge Road” is just as deserving of recognition.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
In Kentucky, lawmakers recently passed a bill classifying TV-viewing patterns as “sensitive data” deserving of broader legal protections and transparency measures.
From Slate • May 3, 2026
I look at it and feel resentment, because this stupid-looking hat is mine, and deserving of ridicule.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
