Antonyms for the word “deserve” refer to terms that indicate the lack of merit or worthiness for a particular outcome or treatment. These antonyms depict situations where there is an absence of justifiable entitlement or rightful claim to something based on actions, qualities, or circumstances.
Synonymous with unworthy, undeserving is an antonym for deserve that expresses a sense of not being deserving or not having earned a reward or punishment. This term is often used to convey situations where individuals do not merit a specific outcome due to their actions or lack of effort.
In contrast, the term “unearned” can also serve as an antonym for “deserve”, highlighting cases where individuals acquire something without having worked for it or without possessing the necessary qualities to justify receiving it. This term suggests a lack of deservingness or entitlement based on merit or effort.
35 Antonyms for DESERVE With Sentences
Here’s a complete list of opposite for deserve. Practice and let us know if you have any questions regarding DESERVE antonyms.
| Antonym | Sentence with Deserve | Sentence with Antonym |
|---|---|---|
| Earn | He deserved the promotion for his hard work. | She did not earn any recognition for her laziness. |
| Unworthy | They deserve to be recognized for their efforts. | He feels unworthy of any praise or rewards. |
| Undeserving | She deserved the scholarship for her outstanding achievements. | It’s unfair that someone undeserving got the award. |
| Ineligible | The team deserves to win the championship after their performance. | They are ineligible to participate in the tournament due to their previous actions. |
| Inadequate | He deserves the best for his dedication to his work. | She feels inadequate for the job and doesn’t want any rewards. |
| Unmerited | She truly deserved the recognition she received for her volunteer work. | The awards were given out arbitrarily and seemed unmerited. |
| Disqualified | The athlete deserves a spot on the national team. | He was disqualified from the competition due to a rule violation. |
| Unjustified | His actions deserve consequences. | The punishment seemed unjustified for such a minor offense. |
| Unearned | She deserved the academic scholarship for her hard work. | He felt guilty for receiving the scholarship unearned. |
| Undeserved | They deserve the accolades for their innovation. | The praise felt undeserved as he didn’t contribute to the project. |
| Unentitled | The employee deserves to be commended for his efforts. | They are unentitled to any special treatment as they haven’t earned it. |
| Unworthy | She deserves the recognition for her selfless acts. | He feels unworthy of any awards and prefers to stay behind the scenes. |
| Unfit | He deserved the title of Employee of the Year. | She believed that she was unfit for the title due to her performance. |
| Unjust | She deserves to have her hard work acknowledged. | It was unjust that she was not recognized for her dedication. |
| Inappropriate | They truly deserve the success they have achieved. | The criticism they received was inappropriate and uncalled for. |
| Overscored | The team truly deserved the victory after their performance. | The opponents felt that the winning score was overscored and didn’t reflect the game accurately. |
| Unqualified | She deserves the job for her qualifications. | He felt unqualified for the position and didn’t take the offer. |
| Not worthy | They deserve a break after working so hard. | He believes he is not worthy of any break or time off. |
| Incompetent | He truly deserves the recognition for his efforts. | She felt incompetent and believed she didn’t earn any accolades. |
| Inadequate | She deserves the scholarship for her academic achievements. | He felt inadequate compared to the other applicants. |
| Unjustifiable | The punishment deserves to match the crime. | The penalty seemed completely unjustifiable given the circumstances. |
| Unmeasurable | The success they achieved was well deserved. | The impact of their actions was unmeasurable and went unnoticed. |
| Avoid | He did deserve a second chance after making a mistake. | She wanted to avoid being given preferential treatment. |
| Disapproval | The recognition she received was truly deserved. | His actions garnered disapproval and criticism from his peers. |
| Unblessed | Their hard work deserves to be rewarded. | She felt unblessed and believed she didn’t earn any rewards. |
| Ungrateful | She truly deserves all the success she has gained. | The complaints from her seemed ungrateful considering the effort put in. |
| Unfavored | He deserved the award for his exceptional performance. | She felt unfavored by fate and didn’t expect any recognition. |
| Unmerited | The promotion was well deserved for her dedication. | It was an unmerited decision to give him the raise without any reason. |
| Disparage | The recognition they received was truly deserved. | He chose to disparage any praise he received and downplayed his achievements. |
| Undesiring | His dedication truly deserves acknowledgment. | She seemed undesiring of any recognition and preferred to stay humble. |
Final Thoughts about Antonyms of DESERVE
In life, fairness and justice dictate that individuals receive what they have earned through their hard work and dedication, rather than things being arbitrarily given or taken away. It is important to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and contributions of individuals. When recognition and rewards are given to individuals based on merit, it fosters a sense of motivation and fulfillment. Conversely, when the credit or benefits are not commensurate with the work put in, it can lead to feelings of unworthiness and dissatisfaction. Therefore, it is crucial to always strive for fairness and equitable treatment in all aspects of life.
By recognizing and rewarding individuals based on merit and effort, a sense of justice and fairness is upheld. This can foster a positive environment where individuals feel valued and motivated to continue their hard work. On the other hand, when recognition and rewards are not aligned with one’s efforts, it can lead to feelings of injustice and demotivation. It is essential to ensure that individuals receive what they have rightfully earned, as this promotes a sense of fairness and equity in both personal and professional settings.
