as in justified
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong
a well deserved promotion for a hard worker
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Recent Examples of deserved
Dan Howarth, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
The rapper was on hand to help celebrate the punk rock trio receiving their much deserved star on the famous Tinseltown walkway along with the likes of Ryan Reynolds, the band’s longtime record executive and producer Rob Cavallo and host Matt Pinfield, all of whom gave speeches at the ceremony.
—Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 2 May 2025
Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Some lieutenant governors deserved their pay as agency heads or as effective advisers to governors, notably under Govs.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deserved
Adjective
With her recent domination of Milan, and imminent command over New York City’s annual design week in May, Toogood is happily riding this second wave of success—and humbly basking in the highly deserved recognition from her industry peers.
—Dan Howarth, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
The rapper was on hand to help celebrate the punk rock trio receiving their much deserved star on the famous Tinseltown walkway along with the likes of Ryan Reynolds, the band’s longtime record executive and producer Rob Cavallo and host Matt Pinfield, all of whom gave speeches at the ceremony.
—Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 2 May 2025
Verb
The Canucks deserved to be down by a goal or two, but Kevin Lankinen’s sharp play kept the score tied in the first period.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
Some lieutenant governors deserved their pay as agency heads or as effective advisers to governors, notably under Govs.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deserved
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deserved
Adjective
-
The justified accusation that the carbon footprint of a child from a rich nation was gigantic compared to that of a child from a poorer nation (except those from elite families) thickening the political smog obscuring the raw ecological toll of adding eighty million a year to the human population.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2025
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Penalized For all the justified focus on the offense, the Padres’ season has largely been a tale of two bullpens.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Hamlin earned a scholarship this season and Campbell said this was one of the most pivotal moments of his career.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2025
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Nate Schmidt took on Domi in defense of his teammate, and the pair earned fighting majors.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deserved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserved. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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