Deserving and Deficient

Deserving

Deserving adjective - Having sufficient worth or merit to receive one's honor, esteem, or reward.
Usage example: gifts donated to deserving children every Christmas

Deficient is an antonym for deserving.

Nearby Words: deserved, deservedly

Deficient

Deficient adjective - Lacking some necessary part.

Deserving is an antonym for deficient.

Nearby Words: deficiency, deficit, deficiently
Cite this Source
Deficient and Deserving. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/deserving/deficient
Deserving & Deficient. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/deserving/deficient>.
Deficient or Deserving. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/deserving/deficient.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "deserving" and "deficient" have occurred on timeline