Deserving
adj.kind, thoughtfulformal
What it means
Worthy of help, praise, attention, or reward on fair grounds.
Reach for it when identifying someone or something whose claim should be recognized
The patient volunteers are deserving of more than a hurried thank-you.
Choose between these
6- everyday
when merit or value supports respectful recognition
not when Worthy can describe a cause or object without the implied claim to receive something.
- warm
when character or effort inspires personal respect
not when Admiration is optional; a deserving applicant may simply meet fair criteria.
- professional
when an action specifically deserves approval
not when Commendable praises behavior but does not naturally identify someone needing help.
- professional
when stated requirements make someone eligible
not when Qualification proves fit under rules, not broader deservingness.
- formal
entitled
when a rule or right guarantees receipt
not when Entitled can sound negative and is stronger than a moral claim based on merit.
- formal
when conduct or achievement meets an explicit high standard
not when Its institutional tone is excessive for everyday kindness or need.
Said against
3- undeserving
- unworthy
- ineligible
It naturally appears in
3- deserving cause
The neighborhood fund supports a deserving cause each winter.
- deserving candidate
Reviewers agreed that Mara was a deserving candidate for the scholarship.
- deserving of praise
The quiet work behind the successful event is deserving of praise.
Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English adjective, sense 1: worthy of reward or assistance opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.