Deserving — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /di-ˈzər-viŋ/ de·serv·ing

Meaning & Definition of Deserving

Deserving (noun)

  1. deserved reward or punishment, merit

Deserving (adjective)

  1. having good qualities that deserve praise, support, etc., meritorious, worthy
  2. appropriately having or being given something specified —used with of

Deserving (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "gifts donated to deserving children every Christmas"

    similar: good, meritorious, worthy
    related: admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, praiseworthy, invaluable, priceless, cherished, prized, treasured, choice, excellent, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, primary, prime, special
    opposite: no-good, undeserving, valueless, worthless
    near: base, cheap, inferior, second-rate, substandard, bad, defective, flawed, imperfect, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, unacceptable, unsatisfactory

Deserving (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: earning, meriting, rating
    related: entitling, qualifying

Related Entry: Deserve (verb)

Deserve is a different word from Deserving. The synonyms below are for deserve, not for deserving.

  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 Deserving

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deserving:

good, meritorious, worthy, earning, meriting, rating

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deserving

Words with the opposite meaning of Deserving:

no-good, undeserving, valueless, worthless

Related Words for Deserving

admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, praiseworthy, invaluable, priceless, cherished, prized, treasured, choice, excellent, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, primary, prime, special, entitling, qualifying

Near Antonyms of Deserving

base, cheap, inferior, second-rate, substandard, bad, defective, flawed, imperfect, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, unacceptable, unsatisfactory

Word Forms of Deserving

Derived words: deservingly (adverb), deservingness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Deserving

Middle English deserving, deservinge, from gerund of deserven "to deserve"

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Deserving

What does "Deserving" mean?

"Deserving" means deserved reward or punishment, merit. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: deserved reward or punishment, merit. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Deserving"?

Other words for "Deserving" include good, meritorious, worthy, earning, meriting and rating. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Deserving" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Deserving"?

There are 26 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Deserving". Common alternatives include good, meritorious, worthy, earning, meriting and rating.

What is the opposite of "Deserving"?

Antonyms of "Deserving" include no-good, undeserving, valueless and worthless. Near antonyms include base, cheap, inferior and second-rate.

How do you use "Deserving" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deserving" in a sentence: "gifts donated to deserving children every Christmas"; "the team really deserved that victory after the way they played".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Deserving"?

"Deserving" is pronounced /di-ˈzər-viŋ/ and divided into syllables as de·serv·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Deserving"?

"Deserving" comes from Middle English deserving, deservinge, from gerund of deserven "to deserve". First known use: 14th century.