Skip to main content
deservedly

deservedly

9 3.7
People get a fair result because of what they did
  • adverb
  • /dɪˈzɜrvɪdli/
translation icon : merecidamente
  • It's the ultimate Star Wars experience, and it is deservedly on our 100 best games of all time.

But God is never angry like he says, unless deservedly so.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Lucian had been his hero, the one he placed above all others, and deservedly so.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Military benefits are deservedly generous.

    Academic text (2015)
  • But God is never angry like he says, unless deservedly so.

  • - And very deservedly, I might add.

  • The owners feel entitled to a larger slice of this new pie and deservedly so.

    Blog text (32)
  • A human rights policy applied selectively and deservedly loses much of its moral authority.

    Academic text (1992)
  • His response to Hurricane Katrina was deservedly criticized for its mismanagement.

    Academic text (2008)
  • He was a man of courage, heart and dignity, of whom a beloved wife and cherished son may be deservedly proud.

  • René St Michel is being tossed out of the game, and deservedly so, as the score remains Ice Hounds 1, Charlestown Chiefs, no score.

  • The athlete deservedly received the award for his outstanding performance this season.

Synonyms

rightly
vsdeservedly
113 2.6

In a fair way because someone deserves it

focuses on being appropriate because of what someone did
rightfully
vsdeservedly
72 3.7

In a fair and legal way

emphasizes earned appropriateness due to someone's actions rather than legal right
justly
vsdeservedly
20 3.4

In a fair and honest way

leans on being appropriate because of what someone earned by action
justifiably
vsdeservedly
17 4.6

For a good reason that can be shown to be right

stresses being right because it was earned by someone's conduct not only defensibility
worthily
vsdeservedly
1 6.9

In a way that deserves respect or praise

focuses on rightness and appropriateness due to actions not merely respect
deservingly
vsdeservedly
1 4.5

In a way that shows someone earned praise or a reward for their actions

is the same meaning but is the more common adverb form
creditably
vsdeservedly
1 6.3

In a way that deserves praise for doing a good job

implies being appropriate because of action rather than modest praise
meritoriously
vsdeservedly
7.9

In a way that deserves praise or reward

is about being appropriate because of what someone has done rather than praise
praiseworthily
vsdeservedly
8.8

In a way people admire for doing something good

is about being appropriate because of merit rather than simply attracting praise

Antonyms

25 5.2

In an unfair way

1 7.0

In a way that is not fair and not earned

How Justified

deservedly
9 3.7
rightly
113 2.6
justifiably
17 4.6
properly
686 1.0
appropriately
120 3.5

Surface Forms

deservedly positive

Morphology

deservedly = deserved (transparent) = deserve + ed + ly

Formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'deserved' (itself from 'deserve' + -ed), producing the expected meaning 'in a deserved manner'.

Etymology

Deservedly comes from deserve, a word that long ago meant 'to earn by serving' and is related to the common words serve and service. So, if someone is praised or punished deservedly, it means they 'earned' that result because of what they did.