Synonyms of deserving

deserving 1 of 2

adjective

as in worthy

having sufficient worth or merit to receive one's honor, esteem, or reward

gifts donated to deserving children every Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worthy
• meritorious
• good
• special
• admirable
• commendable
• creditable
• excellent
• invaluable
• exceptional
• praiseworthy
• primary
• cherished
• laudable
• priceless
• prime
• choice
• prized
• fancy
• treasured
• high-grade

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• worthless
• inferior
• undeserving
• no-good
• cheap
• base
• substandard
• bad
• valueless
• defective
• imperfect
• inadequate
• insufficient
• deficient
• unsatisfactory
• unacceptable
• second-rate
• flawed

deserving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of deserve

as in earning

to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment)

the team really deserved that victory after the way they played

Synonyms & Similar Words

• earning
• meriting
• rating
• qualifying
• entitling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deserving

Adjective

And Robinson is every bit as deserving of similar consideration among teams who have the cap space to make a play for his services. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026

That long after the war ended, debate about whether men like him were deserving of recognition and reparation would continue. — Literary Hub, 16 June 2026

Verb

While box office success is uncertain against competition, it's touted as a cool blockbuster deserving a premium viewing experience. — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Typically, deserving candidates are sure things in one bucket or another. — James Mirtle, New York Times, 17 June 2026