deserving

[ dih-zur-ving ]

/ dɪˈzɜr vɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR deserving ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

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Origin of deserving

First recorded in 1570–80; deserve + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM deserving

de·serv·ing·ly, adverbde·serv·ing·ness, nounself-de·serv·ing, adjectiveun·de·serv·ing, adjective

un·de·serv·ing·ly, adverbun·de·serv·ing·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for deserving

Are there undeserving, even fraudulent people receiving welfare/food/housing assistance?
When Did ‘Dependence’ Become a Dirty Word?|Gene Robinson|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Romney implied that these folks are lazy and undeserving, always looking for a handout.
Mitt Romney’s 47 Percent Not Who GOP Wants You to Think They Are|James Braxton Peterson|September 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The underlying message: Daniels was undeserving to be a mother because of her adult career.
Stormy Daniels on Being a Porn-Star Mom|Kristin Battista-Frazee|August 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Those who were well-to-do did not like to part with real money for so undeserving a cause.
Strange Stories of the Great Valley|Abbie Johnston Grosvenor

I fear I must be undeserving of their praise, else I 238 should never get it.
Love Letters of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Volume I (of 2)|Nathaniel Hawthorne
Then kneel again and ask God to have mercy on you, an undeserving old beggar.
Fighting the Sea|Edward A. Rand
But it is for an excellent charity: in aid of the Undeserving, the only people I am really interested in.
An Ideal Husband|Oscar Wilde
The Bible is full of thanks to God for his continued mercies to his undeserving creatures.
The Lost Kitty|Harriette Newell Woods Baker (AKA Aunt Hattie)

British Dictionary definitions for deserving

deserving

/ (dɪˈzɜːvɪŋ) /

adjective

(often postpositive and foll by of) worthy, esp of praise or reward

noun

rare a merit or demerit; desert

Derived forms of deserving

deservingly, adverbdeservingness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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deserving

adjective

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Origin of deserving

OTHER WORDS FROM deserving

Example sentences from the Web for deserving

British Dictionary definitions for deserving

adjective

noun

Derived forms of deserving

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

deserving

adjective

QUIZZES

THE OCTOBER WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ IS HERE TO HAUNT YOU

Origin of deserving

OTHER WORDS FROM deserving

Words related to deserving

Example sentences from the Web for deserving

British Dictionary definitions for deserving

adjective

noun

Derived forms of deserving