Word
undeserved
Phoneticsun·de·served, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌəndɪˈzɝvd/
UK/ˌʌndɪzˈɜːvd/
Definition
adj. not earned or fair. You use this to describe something good or bad that happens to someone when they did not do anything to cause it.
adj. not warranted by one's actions, qualities, or merits. Often describes a reputation, punishment, or reward that is perceived as unjust.
Examples
“He felt that the harsh criticism was completely undeserved.”
“After working hard for months, she felt the team's failure was an undeserved result of bad luck.”
“The actor maintained a humble attitude despite his fame, often remarking that his sudden success felt undeserved given the many talented peers who remained unknown.”
Examples
simple
“He felt that the harsh criticism was completely undeserved.”
contextual
“After working hard for months, she felt the team's failure was an undeserved result of bad luck.”
complex
“The actor maintained a humble attitude despite his fame, often remarking that his sudden success felt undeserved given the many talented peers who remained unknown.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “undeserved” in context.
Verb
01. receive undeserved
“She felt she had received undeserved praise for the group project.”
verb + adj
02. suffer undeserved
“Many innocent people suffer undeserved hardship during the conflict.”
verb + adj
03. undeservedly win
“The team managed to undeservedly win the match in the final minute.”
adv + verb
Adjective
04. largely undeserved
“The company's poor reputation is largely undeserved.”
adv + adj
05. wholly undeserved
“The criticism he received was wholly undeserved given his hard work.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. undeserved luck
“Winning the lottery was a stroke of undeserved luck.”
adj + noun
07. undeserved punishment
“The child felt that the time-out was an undeserved punishment.”
adj + noun
08. undeserved reputation
“The hotel has an undeserved reputation for being dirty.”
adj + noun
09. an entirely undeserved reputation
“The city has an entirely undeserved reputation for being dangerous at night.”
10. suffer an undeserved fate
“The historic building suffered an undeserved fate when it was demolished.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel'.
Real-World Examples
“Michael (Ted Danson), the seemingly benevolent overseer, is revealed to be a demonic bureaucrat experimenting with a novel method of tormenting souls by persuading them that they have received an undeserved eternal reward.” “Yet, on a deeper level, the suffering is undeserved, and as he articulates, the tragedy is painfully "unfair.” “Owing largely to feminist initiatives, the "Miss America Pageant," which was once known as "The Miss America Beauty Pageant," has been working to shed its somewhat undeserved reputation as a showcase of superficiality.” “His sentence was undeserved for the role that he played, Stefano said in an email to Reuters.” Etymology
From the prefix un- and the verb deserved, the latter being the past participle of deserve. The term is first recorded in the late 14th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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