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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deserving
Walter E Block, Oc Register, 21 July 2025
The appeals process following a death sentence is meant to be thorough, ensuring the defendant is truly guilty and deserving of the ultimate punishment, which is legal under federal law and in 27 states, though governors in four of those states have suspended executions.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 20 July 2025
PCMAG, 23 Feb. 2025
There are myriad factors for this season’s likely outcome and achievements in both camps that are deserving of acclaim; good signings, good coaching, good decisions at the right moment.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deserving
Adjective
The money saved, thereby could be diverted to more deserving scientists.
—Walter E Block, Oc Register, 21 July 2025
The appeals process following a death sentence is meant to be thorough, ensuring the defendant is truly guilty and deserving of the ultimate punishment, which is legal under federal law and in 27 states, though governors in four of those states have suspended executions.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 20 July 2025
Verb
Still, the Lexar Professional Go With Hub provides an effective solution for iPhone videographers who want to record 4K ProRes video with high frame rates without swamping precious device memory, and is deserving of our highest recommendation.
—PCMAG, 23 Feb. 2025
There are myriad factors for this season’s likely outcome and achievements in both camps that are deserving of acclaim; good signings, good coaching, good decisions at the right moment.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deserving
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deserving
Adjective
-
All are worthy, but the 69-year-old Brewery Bar II shows many of them up with its face-meltingly hot variety of the traditional stew, available in cups, bowls, take-out containers and atop Mexican dishes and combos — including its unbeatable crispy rellenos.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The Most Beautiful Places in Arizona Poll 2025 launched on July 15 with 10 gorgeously worthy contenders going head to head in a reader poll to determine the most stunning Arizona view everyone should see at least once.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The governor’s plan would make pre-K free for families earning up to $100,000 a year, and $20 a day for those earning up to $150,000.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Two weeks later, Payne carried the Lancers to a championship in La Jolla’s Beach City Invitational, earning the tournament’s MVP for middles.—
Tim Meehan SD,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
While there’s no question that alleviating poverty is a meritorious pursuit, so too is funding the discovery of a technology that allows millions to live more comfortably 20 years from now.—
Omar Al-Ubaydli,
semafor.com,
16 July 2025
-
Awards are given for meritorious activities in accreditation, continuing education, educational innovation, preuniversity education, service to the IEEE EAB, employee professional development, and related achievements that advance the practice of engineering and of engineering education.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
17 Dec. 2020
Adjective
-
But in general, if your heart age is younger than your actual age—or, just a couple years older—that’s a good sign, Khan said.—
Kristen Fischer,
Health,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Lots of people succeeding at enterprise spells a good economy.—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserving. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share