Undeserving: meaning, definitions and examples

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undeserving

[ˌʌndɪˈzɜːvɪŋ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

feeling

not worthy or deserving of something, often used to describe someone who is perceived as not having earned or merited a particular reward or benefit

Synonyms

undesirable, unmerited, unworthy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
undeserving	Use 'undeserving' to describe someone or something that should not receive a particular benefit or attention, often implying a sense of disapproval. He is undeserving of the praise he receives This behavior is undeserving of respect
unworthy	Use 'unworthy' to describe someone or something lacking qualities that deserve respect, attention, or a particular benefit. She felt unworthy of the award His actions made him unworthy of forgiveness
undesirable	Use 'undesirable' to describe something or someone that is not wanted or is unpleasant, often with a negative connotation. Living in such a noisy area is undesirable The company deemed him an undesirable employee
unmerited	Use 'unmerited' in formal or written contexts to describe something that has been obtained or given without deserving it. He received unmerited praise for his work The grant seemed unmerited considering his qualifications

Examples of usage

He felt undeserving of the praise he received for a project he didn't contribute much to.
She was overwhelmed by the award, feeling undeserving of such recognition.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

behavior

not showing gratitude or appreciation for something received

Synonyms

unappreciative, ungrateful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
undeserving	This word is used when someone is not worthy of something, such as praise, rewards, or opportunities. It usually implies a lack of merit or qualification. He received an award for bravery, but many felt he was undeserving of such recognition. The promotion went to an undeserving candidate who had done little to earn it.
ungrateful	This word describes someone who is not thankful, especially when they should be. It often carries a strong negative connotation. The children received many gifts, but they were ungrateful and complained about not getting more. He showed an ungrateful attitude despite all the help he received from his colleagues.
unappreciative	Use this word when someone does not show gratitude or appreciation for what they have or what others do for them. It has a negative connotation, suggesting ingratitude. Despite all the effort the team put in, their manager remained unappreciative. She felt hurt because her unappreciative friends never acknowledged the favor she did for them.

Word

Description / Examples

undeserving

This word is used when someone is not worthy of something, such as praise, rewards, or opportunities. It usually implies a lack of merit or qualification.

He received an award for bravery, but many felt he was undeserving of such recognition.
The promotion went to an undeserving candidate who had done little to earn it.

ungrateful

This word describes someone who is not thankful, especially when they should be. It often carries a strong negative connotation.

The children received many gifts, but they were ungrateful and complained about not getting more.
He showed an ungrateful attitude despite all the help he received from his colleagues.

unappreciative

Use this word when someone does not show gratitude or appreciation for what they have or what others do for them. It has a negative connotation, suggesting ingratitude.

Despite all the effort the team put in, their manager remained unappreciative.
She felt hurt because her unappreciative friends never acknowledged the favor she did for them.

Examples of usage

His undeserving behavior towards his parents upset them greatly.
The team's undeserving attitude towards their coach disappointed everyone.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word combines 'un-', which means 'not', with 'deserving', derived from the Old French 'deservir', meaning 'to serve well'.
First recorded use in English dates back to the late 14th century, reflecting social attitudes about worthiness.

Psychology

Studies suggest that people often project personal experiences of worth or failure onto others, judging their deservingness unfairly.
The concept relates to fairness heuristics, where humans instinctively assess whether others have earned their outcomes.

Cultural Perspectives

In many cultures, generosity and support are often given without questioning whether someone is 'deserving', reflecting varying beliefs about merit.
Some philosophical views advocate that compassion should be extended regardless of perceived deservingness, emphasizing unconditional kindness.

Literature

Characters in literary works often grapple with the theme of deservingness, exploring internal conflicts when they feel undeserving of love or success.
In Shakespeare's plays, characters frequently debate issues of merit and worthiness, questioning who is deemed deserving or undeserving in society.

Social Issues

Discussions around welfare and social programs often feature the term as a topic of debate on who deserves assistance, reflecting societal values.
The term is frequently used in discussions around justice, where individuals argue about deserving punishment versus vindication.

Translations

Translations of the word "undeserving" in other languages:

🇵🇹 indigno

🇮🇳 अयोग्य

🇩🇪 unwürdig

🇮🇩 tidak pantas

🇺🇦 негідний

🇵🇱 niegodny

🇯🇵 ふさわしくない (fusawashikunai)

🇫🇷 indigne

🇪🇸 indigno

🇹🇷 layık olmayan

🇰🇷 가치 없는 (gachi eomneun)

🇸🇦 غير مستحق (ghyr mustahiq)

🇨🇿 nezasloužený

🇸🇰 nezaslúžený

🇨🇳 不配 (bù pèi)

🇸🇮 nezalužen

🇮🇸 óverðugur

🇰🇿 лайықсыз

🇬🇪 დაუმსახურებელი (daumsakhurebeli)

🇦🇿 layiq olmayan

🇲🇽 indigno

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,149, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

...
26146 swiped
26147 glorifying
26148 squealing
26149 undeserving
26150 jeweller
26151 procaine
26152 gangrenous
...