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.
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
Finally, Barclays looks at IT hardware and communications equipment, with analysts led by Tim Long discussing whether AI-exposed names are deserving of higher current multiples.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026
A red-card escape in the Women's Champions League for Katie McCabe perhaps shows the kind of decision fans really see as deserving of a ban.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
To Casteen, these are steps to remove what he describes as “artificial barriers” to a college education placed in the way of otherwise deserving students.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
