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
Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
Once overshadowed by its reputation for quick shots and cheap imitations, tequila has transformed into a refined spirit deserving of profound appreciation.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Jack Smart, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
And yet, the film has a pretty expert ensemble — Kevin Spacey won the Oscar, but Annette Bening was even more deserving — and Conrad Hall’s photography captures all the shiny surfaces that contrast with the characters’ anguished inner worlds.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deserving
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Noun
Prosecutors have never said publicly what came of those reviews, but emails from the new lead prosecutor included as exhibits in the recent court filings indicate the government did not consider Haas or Cantú deserving of a reduction in charges.
—Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
Once overshadowed by its reputation for quick shots and cheap imitations, tequila has transformed into a refined spirit deserving of profound appreciation.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The other nominees were incredibly deserving and delivered great performances this year.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
And yet, the film has a pretty expert ensemble — Kevin Spacey won the Oscar, but Annette Bening was even more deserving — and Conrad Hall’s photography captures all the shiny surfaces that contrast with the characters’ anguished inner worlds.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 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 10 Mar. 2025.
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