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
Synonyms
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
Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Here’s to another year of first-class culinary adventures, and the final five restaurants that have made December’s ‘where to eat and drink in London’ shortlist—each deserving of a first and/or last hurrah.
—Lela London, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Mark Hughes, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
There was no one more deserving of that opportunity than Pamela Anderson.
—Jamie Lee Curtis, IndieWire, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deserving 
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Noun
In the late 1800s, local elites attempted to rationalize charitable giving by forming charitable societies to act as umbrella organizations that could weed out the undeserving from the deserving.
—Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Here’s to another year of first-class culinary adventures, and the final five restaurants that have made December’s ‘where to eat and drink in London’ shortlist—each deserving of a first and/or last hurrah.
—Lela London, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Best Visual Effects Winners & Lessons The category for Best Visual Effects is the rare example where even disagreements about the most deserving nominee still usually recognizes the legitimacy of the rest of the nominees in the category.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
There was no one more deserving of that opportunity than Pamela Anderson.
—Jamie Lee Curtis, IndieWire, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deserving
Dictionary Entries Near deserving
Cite this Entry
“Deserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deserving. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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