undeserving
adjective
un·de·serv·ing
ˌən-di-ˈzər-viŋ
: not deserving: such as
a
: lacking merit : not worthy of praise, assistance, attention, etc.
selfish, undeserving people
The natural history of women's friendships is by no means a thin or undeserving subject.—Barbara Kingsolver
b
: not deserving something specified
… circumstances of brutal outrage, of which poor Jean was in many respects wholly undeserving.—Sir Walter Scott
I do not mean to say that medicine is blameless … or undeserving of criticism.—Margaret Talbot
undeservingly
adverb
Cite this Entry
“Undeserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undeserving. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.
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