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
Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 7 June 2025
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
Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
In this case, the art and the artist are both complicit and deserving of refusal.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deserving
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Noun
Another outstanding release Volvo, and deserving of World Car Award accolades in my opinion.
—Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 7 June 2025
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
Adjective
With his academic achievements, leadership and dedication, Nicolas is a deserving candidate of the Enquirer's Student of the Week award.
—Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
In this case, the art and the artist are both complicit and deserving of refusal.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 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 8 Jul. 2025.
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