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Undeserving Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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undeserving

un-de-serv-ing

🇺🇸 /ˌəndɪˈzɝvɪŋ/ · 🇬🇧 /ˌʌndɪzˈɜːvɪŋ/

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?

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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?

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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.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “undeserving”

Undeserving is a 4-syllable adjective (un-de-serv-ing). It is pronounced /ˌəndɪˈzɝvɪŋ/ in American English and /ˌʌndɪzˈɜːvɪŋ/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 5 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #26,149 among the most common English words.

Did you know?

“undeserving” in 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.

“undeserving” in 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.

“undeserving” in 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.

“undeserving” in 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.

Origin of 'undeserving'

Main points about word origin

  • 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.

The word 'undeserving' originated from the combination of 'un-' (meaning not) and 'deserving', which comes from the Old French word 'deservir' meaning 'to deserve'. The concept of deserving or being worthy has been a fundamental aspect of human societies throughout history, influencing social structures and moral judgments.

See also: deserve, deserved, deservedly, deserving, deservingness, undeserved, undeservedly.

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.