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undeserving

Other forms: undeservingly

If you are undeserving, then you are not worthy of something. If you believe that a famous actor isn't worthy of the attention and praise he gets, you can describe him as undeserving.

The adjective undeserving is perfect for talking about someone who has more than he or she is entitled to. You might believe that your cheating classmate is undeserving of the school prizes she wins, or that greedy bosses are undeserving of their high salaries. The word deserve is at the root of undeserving, and it in turn comes from the Latin deservire, or "serve well." In Late Latin, this came to mean "be entitled to because of good service."

Definitions of undeserving
  1. adjective
    not deserving
    “the undeserving poor”
    synonyms: unworthy
    unworthy
    lacking in value or merit
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