de·serv·ing
di-ˈzər-viŋ 
1
: having good qualities that deserve praise, support, etc. : meritorious, worthy
rewarding deserving workers
scholarships for deserving students
2
: appropriately having or being given something specified
—used with of
a proposal deserving of support [=a proposal that deserves support]
a criminal deserving of punishment
deservingly
adverb
deservingness
noun
Examples of deserving in a Sentence
Adjective
He's a very deserving young man.
The church provides aid to deserving families.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 July 2025
Which is a real bird and 100% deserving of its name.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
As such, fans from a particular team can overwhelm the voting process, eliminating more deserving players from consideration.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for deserving
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Noun
In the end, our panel named three favorite mint chip pints—each with their own merits—as well as one ice cream deserving of an honorable mention.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 July 2025
Which is a real bird and 100% deserving of its name.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Adjective
While ramen takes center stage, Ramen Del Barrio's tacos are equally deserving of attention.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
As such, fans from a particular team can overwhelm the voting process, eliminating more deserving players from consideration.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for deserving
Cite this Entry
“Deserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deserving. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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