deserved 1 of 2

deserved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of deserve
as in earned
to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) the team really deserved that victory after the way they played

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deserved
Adjective
The internet is demanding justice for a dog who was snubbed from a rightfully deserved treat after her owner got distracted. William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025 And while the attention for both is well deserved, there’s so much more to the country than those two spotlight-grabbing cities. Christina Liao, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
The Canucks deserved to be down by a goal or two, but Kevin Lankinen’s sharp play kept the score tied in the first period. Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025 Some lieutenant governors deserved their pay as agency heads or as effective advisers to governors, notably under Govs. Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deserved
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deserved
Adjective
  • Physicians and hospitals say their fees are justified, reflecting the true price of medical care.
    T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Deadheads who bought tickets for an entire weekend’s worth of shows are no doubt feeling more justified in that decision, given how there will likely be unique visual content across all three nights at this point, in addition to the musical setlists consisting of no-repeat weekends.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Hamlin earned a scholarship this season and Campbell said this was one of the most pivotal moments of his career.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Nate Schmidt took on Domi in defense of his teammate, and the pair earned fighting majors.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deserved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserved. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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