undeserving

adjective

un·​de·​serv·​ing ˌən-di-ˈzər-viŋ 

: not deserving: such as

a

: lacking merit : not worthy of praise, assistance, attention, etc.

selfish, undeserving people

The natural history of women's friendships is by no means a thin or undeserving subject.

—Barbara Kingsolver

b

: not deserving something specified

… circumstances of brutal outrage, of which poor Jean was in many respects wholly undeserving.

—Sir Walter Scott

I do not mean to say that medicine is blameless … or undeserving of criticism.

—Margaret Talbot

undeservingly adverb

Examples of undeserving in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, Black women have historically been viewed by whites as unclean and licentious and therefore undeserving of protection. —Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025

After demanding Posey show some respect, Browning-Grice spoke about her daughter’s infectious laugh and her dedication to showing compassion to even those who seemed undeserving of it. —Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2025

Their nominations went to the Senate last week uncontested by the Democratic minority, whose members walked out to protest how Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, accelerated a vote on Trump’s most controversial and undeserving choice, Emil Bove III, to join the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 July 2025

Scream 3 is often dealt a short shrift by series fans and critics alike, but the flack is largely undeserving. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing undeserving

• undeserving poor

Rhymes for undeserving

• conserving
• deserving
• observing
• preserving
• reserving
• subserving
• unnerving
• unswerving
• curving
• serving
• swerving