deserved

adjective

de·​served di-ˈzərvd 

: of, relating to, or being that which one deserves

a deserved reputation

deservedly

di-ˈzər-vəd-lē 

-ˈzərvd-lē

adverb

deservedness

di-ˈzər-vəd-nəs 

-ˈzərvd-nəs

noun

Synonyms

• competent
• condign
• due
• fair
• just
• justified
• merited
• right
• rightful
• warranted

Examples of deserved in a Sentence

a well deserved promotion for a hard worker

Recent Examples on the Web

And while the attention for both is well deserved, there’s so much more to the country than those two spotlight-grabbing cities. —Christina Liao, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025

Bournemouth and Fulham have left Tyneside with deserved victories and Howe has appeared reluctant to use his replacements early. —Sam Lee, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025

The lead single off the Italian synth-pop project Baltimora’s debut LP has stalked our social media feeds in recent years, giving it a much deserved spotlight in absurd infamy. —Spin Editors, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2025

Democrats and Republicans would earn deserved gratitude from voters for advancing a recall process that gives it to them. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of deserve

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deserved

• underserved
• undeserved
• unobserved
• unreserved
• conserved
• decurved
• incurved
• observed
• preserved
• recurved
• reserved
• subserved

Kids Definition

deserved

adjective

de·​served -ˈzərvd 

: of, relating to, or being that which one deserves

a deserved punishment

deservedly

-ˈzər-vəd-lē 

adverb

deservedness

-nəs 

noun