Deserved — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /di-ˈzərvd/ de·served

Meaning & Definition of Deserved

Deserved (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or being that which one deserves

Deserved (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong

    "a well deserved promotion for a hard worker"

    similar: competent, condign, due, fair, just, justified, merited, right, rightful, warranted
    related: applicable, appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, meet, proper, requisite, suitable, lawful, legal, legitimate, accurate, correct, true, rhadamanthine, strict, stringent, uncompromising, equitable, impartial, square
    opposite: undeserved, undue, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited, unwarranted
    near: incoherent, incorrect, irrelative, irrelevant, improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, indefensible, unjustifiable, unreasonable, unsuitable, biased, inequitable, partial, unequal, arbitrary, despotic, illegitimate, unlawful

Deserved (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "the team really deserved that victory after the way they played"

    similar: earned, merited, rated
    related: entitled, qualified

Related Entry: Deserve (verb)

Deserve is a different word from Deserved. The synonyms below are for deserve, not for deserved.

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

    "the team really deserved that victory after the way they played"

    similar: earn, merit, rate
    related: entitle, qualify

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Deserved

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deserved:

competent, condign, due, fair, just, justified, merited, right, rightful, warranted, earned, rated

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deserved

Words with the opposite meaning of Deserved:

undeserved, undue, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited, unwarranted

Related Words for Deserved

applicable, appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, meet, proper, requisite, suitable, lawful, legal, legitimate, accurate, correct, true, rhadamanthine, strict, stringent, uncompromising, equitable, impartial, square, entitled, qualified

Near Antonyms of Deserved

incoherent, incorrect, irrelative, irrelevant, improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, indefensible, unjustifiable, unreasonable, unsuitable, biased, inequitable, partial, unequal, arbitrary, despotic, illegitimate, unlawful

Word Forms of Deserved

Derived words: deservedly (adverb), deservedness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Deserved

from past participle of deserve

First known use: circa 1552

Frequently Asked Questions about Deserved

What does "Deserved" mean?

"Deserved" means of, relating to, or being that which one deserves. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: of, relating to, or being that which one deserves. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Deserved"?

Other words for "Deserved" include competent, condign, due, fair, just, justified, merited and right. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Deserved" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Deserved"?

There are 36 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Deserved". Common alternatives include competent, condign, due, fair, just, justified, merited, right, rightful and warranted.

What is the opposite of "Deserved"?

Antonyms of "Deserved" include undeserved, undue, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited and unwarranted. Near antonyms include incoherent, incorrect, irrelative and irrelevant.

How do you use "Deserved" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deserved" in a sentence: "a well deserved promotion for a hard worker"; "the team really deserved that victory after the way they played".

Is "Deserved" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Deserved" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Deserved"?

"Deserved" is pronounced /di-ˈzərvd/ and divided into syllables as de·served.

What is the origin of the word "Deserved"?

"Deserved" comes from from past participle of deserve. First known use: circa 1552.