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
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The 2019 college admission scandal demonstrated the lengths to which affluent parents would go to position their child as elite and deserving, all in order to acquire Ivy League credentials.
—Bethany Thompson, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2025
Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
Though some of these beloved pairs earned spots on EW's 100 best TV romances list, others that didn't make the cut are equally deserving of recognition.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deserving
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Noun
Xabi Alonso’s team were on their way to an unbeaten domestic season and the German double, but Mainz were level at 1-1 midway through the second half and deserving of what would have been a vital, morale-lifting point.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The 2019 college admission scandal demonstrated the lengths to which affluent parents would go to position their child as elite and deserving, all in order to acquire Ivy League credentials.
—Bethany Thompson, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
There must never be a situation where one nation is deemed more deserving of assistance than another.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
Though some of these beloved pairs earned spots on EW's 100 best TV romances list, others that didn't make the cut are equally deserving of recognition.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 26 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 29 Apr. 2025.
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