Standard Lemma guide

undeserving

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌʌndɪˈzɝvɪŋ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)vɪŋ
  • CMU ARPABET: AH2 N D IH0 Z ER1 V IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Considered unworthy of reward.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • the undeserving poor

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: deserving

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

not deserving

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the undeserving poor

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unworthy

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From un- + deserving.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: незаслужаващ (nezaslužavašt) — considered unworthy of reward
  • Bulgarian: недостоен (nedostoen) — considered unworthy of reward
  • Danish: uværdig — considered unworthy of reward
  • Dutch: onverdienstelijk — considered unworthy of reward
  • German: unwürdig — considered unworthy of reward
  • Greek: ανάξιος (anáxios) — considered unworthy of reward
  • Ancient Greek: ἀνάξιος (anáxios) — considered unworthy of reward
  • Hindi: अयोग्य (ayogya) — considered unworthy of reward
  • Latin: immerens — considered unworthy of reward
  • Latin: indignus — considered unworthy of reward
  • Portuguese: desmerecedor — considered unworthy of reward
  • Portuguese: indigno — considered unworthy of reward
  • Spanish: inmerecido — considered unworthy of reward
  • Spanish: no / poco merecedor / mereciente — considered unworthy of reward
  • Spanish: desmerecedor — considered unworthy of reward
  • Spanish: desmereciente — considered unworthy of reward