Thesaurus results for DESERVE

deserve

verb

di-ˈzərv

Definition of deserve

as in to earn

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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of deserve But the lethality of deportation, an agent’s primary tool for punishment, deserves recasting. — Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026 Eleven communities and a forest preserve would be affected by the proposed route, and residents in each deserve a meaningful voice in the process. — Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026 Such generosity in defeat is rare in today’s political climate, and Stevens deserves credit for demonstrating it. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026 Every American deserves to know that their doctor was trained at a medical school that puts medicine first. — Ian Kingsbury, Sun Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deserve

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deserve

earn

Verb

The New York Red Bulls took advantage of an early own goal, added an Emil Forsberg score in second-half stoppage time and capitalized on a limited appearance by Lionel Messi to earn a crucial 2-0 victory over Inter Miami on Saturday.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
Prior to working in Hollywood, Atchity served as an assistant professor of English and comparative literature at Occidental College before earning tenure and becoming a full-time professor.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of earn

Browse Nearby Words

deserts

deserve

deserved

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Deserve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserve. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of deserve

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quondam

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes