deserving 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of deservingnext
as in worthy
having sufficient worth or merit to receive one's honor, esteem, or reward gifts donated to deserving children every Christmas

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deserving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of deserve
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 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 deserving
Adjective
With a record-setting 25 nominations — the most for a comedy in a single season — Hacks, the 2024 champ, certainly feels like the winner on paper, and a bookend trophy would be a nice and very deserving kickoff for its farewell awards tour. — Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026 Anyone can nominate a deserving teacher, counselor and principal or school district, school board and early childhood facility. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
All that time, deserving young women were losing their spots on the team or their places atop the podium. — Riley Gaines Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The ongoing explosion of revival screenings in Los Angeles is an opportunity not just to revisit accepted classics, but also to give a spotlight to undersung oddball picks deserving of broader attention. — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deserving
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deserving
  1. worthy
  2. earning
  3. meritorious
  4. good
Adjective
  • There’s no mistaking the pop sensibilities that made this song cross over for the country star, from the Carpenters-worthy soft-pop charm of that piano intro to the lush orchestration on the bridge.
    — Ed Masley, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But this season, their division foes haven’t gotten any easier, and the rest of the league is out to test whether quarterback Sam Darnold can maintain last season’s star-worthy production.
    — NBC Sports, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of worthy
Verb
  • Some soldiers distinguished themselves by helping to render emergency trauma response and first aid to civilians, earning individual service commendations, according to the Arkansas National Guard.
    — Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 29 Aug. 2026
  • As tuition climbs and federal oversight tightens on low-earning programs, a new tool lets families compare outcomes across California campuses.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of earning
Adjective
  • The process is highly competitive, and only the proposals deemed the most meritorious receive funding.
    — Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026
  • These are lawsuits that are not meritorious but are brought to any of harass, intimidate or retaliate against defendants for their exercise of their free speech and related rights.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of meritorious
Adjective
  • Best Amazon End-of-Season Patio Furniture Deals The end-of-season patio furniture deals at Amazon are too good to pass up.
    — Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Grichuk put a good swing on a slider while flying out to left field.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of good

Browse Nearby Words

deserves
deserving
desex
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Cite this Entry

“Deserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserving. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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