deserts
n. countablen. the rewards or punishments that someone truly earns or deserves. It is almost always used in the phrase 'just deserts' to say that someone got exactly what they deserved.
n. the reward or punishment that is deserved or appropriate. Plural in form; most frequently encountered in the fixed idiom 'just deserts'.
After years of lying to his friends, he finally got his just deserts.
The corrupt official finally faced his just deserts when the investigation revealed his hidden bank accounts.
While the villain's downfall felt satisfying to the audience, some critics argued that such a harsh fate exceeded his actual deserts within the context of the story.
Almost exclusively used in the plural. Often confused with 'desserts' (sweet treats) due to identical pronunciation.
he got his just dessertshe got his just desertsLearners often use the double-s spelling of the sweet food 'dessert' instead of the single-s spelling related to 'deserve'.