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
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of deserving
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Ultimately, the committee gave SMU the nod over Alabama, sparking ongoing debate over which team was truly more deserving.
—Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
Goldman said the cruise line has bettered its business and is deserving of a higher price-to-earnings multiple.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deserving 
Adjective
Not enough room for all the deserving lead actress nominees
After the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Ultimately, the committee gave SMU the nod over Alabama, sparking ongoing debate over which team was truly more deserving.
—Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
The stock is deserving of its hefty premium due to the company’s share gains and dependability with a subscription model.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
Goldman said the cruise line has bettered its business and is deserving of a higher price-to-earnings multiple.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deserving
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deserving
Adjective
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Den of Thieves 2: Pantera instead turns out to be an ideal action vehicle for the always watchable and rugged Butler, and a worthy enough sequel to an original that wasn’t all that original to begin with.Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
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As the moon and Mars harmonize, a worthy opponent inspires you to beat your best!USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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What were your first steps toward earning one of the coolest titles in the world – Malt Master of Glenfiddich?Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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After earning its first-ever nomination for season 3 at last year's Globes, season 4 of Slow Horses brought in three more nominations for the thriller series, as stars Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden were nominated for their roles as Jackson Lamb and River Cartwright, respectively.Julia Moore, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Ralph Lauren is the first fashion designer ever to receive the honor, in recognition of his meritorious contributions as a designer, entrepreneur, business leader, and philanthropist.Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2025
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There is no history of disciplinary action in her police record, which lists several awards for meritorious police work.Shayla Colon, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, Cunanan answered correctly and clinched the win with a final score of $19,400.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
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Bottomless mimosas are only a good value after your fourth mimosa, and most teens are plenty tanked after two.JiJi Lee, The New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near deserving
Cite this Entry
“Deserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserving. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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