deservingness

8.4

Being worthy of help, reward, or attention

noun
/dɪˈzɜrvɪŋnəs/

: merecimiento

Many people believe in the deservingness of those who volunteer their time to help others in need.

Examples

The committee carefully evaluated each candidate's deservingness for the scholarship based on their hard work and dedication.
Of course, one could be entirely mistaken about the deservingness, and the impartial spectator is the judge of whether that is so.

Academic text (2001)
To the extent that universalistic criteria are given the most weight, beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries will perceive the policy to be fair because such a weighting structure gives "voice" to each person's performance-related claims to deservingness.

Academic text (1993)
The charity focused on the deservingness of its recipients, ensuring that aid reached those truly in need.

Synonyms

merit

vsdeservingness

258 3.5

A quality that shows someone deserves praise or a reward

emphasizes being fit for aid, reward, or attention rather than moral goodness

worthiness

vsdeservingness

13 4.7

Being seen as having value and deserving respect

is more about qualifying for aid, reward, or attention specifically

deservedness

vsdeservingness

7.4

Being worthy of a reward or punishment

is broader, focusing on aid, reward, or attention rather than punishment

meritoriousness

vsdeservingness

8.5

Deserving praise or a reward

also covers general suitability for aid, reward, or attention beyond praise

praiseworthiness

vsdeservingness

7.5

Being admired for good or brave actions

is broader, applying to many kinds of benefit beyond praise or admiration

laudability

vsdeservingness

Formal

9.2

The quality of being worthy of praise

covers wider outcomes like aid, reward, or attention beyond praise alone

laudableness

vsdeservingness

Formal

9.3

A quality that makes a person or action worthy of praise

is more general, including entitlement to aid, reward, or attention beyond praise

creditability

vsdeservingness

6.8

The quality of being worthy of praise or recognition for an achievement

is broader, applying to help, reward, or attention not only recognition for achievements

Antonyms

unworthiness

3 7.5

A feeling that you are not good enough and do not deserve good things

undeservingness

8.8

A feeling that you are not worthy of praise or reward

How Worthy

merit

258 3.5

worthiness

13 4.7

deservingness

8.4

unworthiness

3 7.5

Surface Forms

deservingness singular

deservingnesses plural

Morphology

deservingness = deserving (transparent) = deserve + ing + ness

Formed by standard noun formation from the adjective 'deserving' (deserve + -ing), so the meaning 'the quality of being deserving' is directly recoverable.

Etymology

Deservingness comes from the verb deserve, which has the root serv meaning 'to serve', just like in the English words serve and service. So, deservingness is the quality of 'being worthy' of help, reward, or attention.