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.
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meriting; worthy.
a criminal deserving of a lifetime sentence.
adjective
noun
Other Word 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.
Wednesday is the last day politicians have to persuade the public that they are deserving of support.
From BBC • 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
But while deserving of top billing, Renegade is hardly a standout, especially after he drew the No. 1 post position, considered a disadvantage.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
Financial-disclosure frameworks at the Securities and Exchange Commission, and parallel regimes across the European Union and U.K., treated these damage projections as credible scientific findings deserving regulatory weight.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
“Is that all, my dear Henry? How could you suppose that my first thought would not fly towards those dear, dear friends whom I love and who are so deserving of my love?”
From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley
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.
