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

• justified

Examples of deserved in a Sentence

a well deserved promotion for a hard worker

Recent Examples on the Web

Can that work in the big leagues, where the manager is usually a glorified PR staffer who talks to the media and takes the blame (deserved or not) for losses? —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025

The result is a deserved cult film that promotes feminism and features some bona fide scares. —Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025

Sacramento State Football, postgame concert with Lil Yachty Hornets football is coming off a bye-week getting some deserved rest and extra reps before their next game. —Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025

Jake Sullivan, who was former President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, also said Trump deserved credit for the peace deal. —Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 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