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
Will Leitch, Vulture, 19 June 2025
Aligoté Incredibly versatile and deserving of more love, according to Dunn, this French find is also extremely food-friendly.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 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
This may be the one Pixar film most deserving of a reappraisal in ten years.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 19 June 2025
Aligoté Incredibly versatile and deserving of more love, according to Dunn, this French find is also extremely food-friendly.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 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 1 Jul. 2025.
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