de·serv·ing
di-ˈzər-viŋ 
: deserved reward or punishment : merit
… reward the proud according to their deservings!—
Charles Kingsley
Charles Kingsley1
: 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
Trevor Jackson, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Teyana Taylor’s dress Fresh off her Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination, Atlanta resident Teyana Taylor hit the Grammy stage with a skin-tight dress deserving of its own award.
—Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
In the 1980s and 1990s, the figure of the addict abruptly shifted from being considered deserving of medical treatment to being seen as an emblem of incurable criminality.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deserving
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Noun
The Eagles had in mind city-dwelling male breadwinners and excluded household and domestic work from their vision of who was among the deserving.
—Trevor Jackson, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Teyana Taylor’s dress Fresh off her Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination, Atlanta resident Teyana Taylor hit the Grammy stage with a skin-tight dress deserving of its own award.
—Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Through playful storytelling and humor, each episode addresses complex feelings and questions, encouraging both children and adults to connect, empathize, and appreciate the significance of everyday moments, reinforcing the message that everyone’s story is valuable and deserving of attention.
—Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026
In the 1980s and 1990s, the figure of the addict abruptly shifted from being considered deserving of medical treatment to being seen as an emblem of incurable criminality.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deserving
Cite this Entry
“Deserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deserving. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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