as in worthy
having sufficient worth or merit to receive one's honor, esteem, or reward
gifts donated to deserving children every Christmas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in earning
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
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Recent Examples of deserving
Karli Swenson,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
Gonzalez is in the same boat as many other members of his draft class, including Devon Witherspoon, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Bryce Young, Jalen Carter and Zay Flowers, who have yet to sign extensions despite being deserving.
—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Kevin Adelante Fund that provides tuition assistance to deserving students whose families otherwise could not afford enrollment.
—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for deserving
Adjective
Some providers described assumptions that patients with substance use disorders were irresponsible, dishonest or less deserving of empathy than other patients.
—
Karli Swenson,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
Gonzalez is in the same boat as many other members of his draft class, including Devon Witherspoon, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Bryce Young, Jalen Carter and Zay Flowers, who have yet to sign extensions despite being deserving.
—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
Verb
This conduct is deserving of condemnation and punishment by the court.
—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Kevin Adelante Fund that provides tuition assistance to deserving students whose families otherwise could not afford enrollment.
—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for deserving
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deserving
Adjective
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Goei maps out a guide for The Times of how an Angeleno can make the long-but-worthy trip there (including how to snag an $80 round-trip flight).
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But those that are purchase-worthy are finding a growing crowd of younger entrepreneurs eager to buy at the right price.
Verb
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Cape Verde then closed the group stage by earning draws against Uruguay on June 21 and Saudi Arabia on June 26.
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Some of the world’s most successful companies are built on it, earning their profits on services layered atop an open core.
Adjective
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Players’ attorneys argue that more restrictive criteria serve to restrict Parkinson’s claims that are meritorious, a point of view disputed by NFL attorneys.
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Hegseth's military awards include two Bronze Star Medals for meritorious service, according to the Pentagon.
Adjective
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Shah adds that many women feel their best when ferritin levels are at least between 40 and 70 ng/ml for optimal energy and hair health, even if lab ranges suggest lower levels are ‘normal’.
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Los Angeles stretches its NL West lead to 11 games and maintains MLB’s best record as Ohtani’s star power turns Sacramento’s nominal home crowd into a roaring Dodgers road show.
Cite this Entry
“Deserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserving. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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