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
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.
Both leads in ‘Death by Lightning’ are deserving, but it seems a long shot.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
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
Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, said he didn’t think this latest episode was quite as deserving of the label.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026
Certain individuals, not by any means always deserving, are truly beloved of the gods.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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.
