highly deserving

USAGE SUMMARY

"highly deserving" is a valid phrase that can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that someone or something is very deserving of something, usually a reward. For example, "The winner of the competition was highly deserving of the prize."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The end result is a beguiling literary hybrid, highly deserving of its Guardian first book award longlisting.

The Guardian - Books

Owing to the high potential of the proposed PCM open-cycle, we believe that the development of new PCM materials specifically designed for this purpose is highly deserving.

Applied Thermal Engineering

A tsunami of highly deserving and controversial candidates is building and will most likely wash away the lesser candidates currently on the ballot.

The New York Times

MIKE HALE: That's a surprise of Jon Cryer magnitude, with Ed Harris in the field for an HBO movie and the highly deserving Martin Freeman.

The New York Times

Cornell University Provost Michael Kotlikoff contends in this op-ed that a group of highly valuable, highly deserving students remains poorly considered among the nation's elite colleges.

Cornell University

"The settlement is best for everyone because it provides these highly deserving families some measure of compensation for their losses and allows the school district to return all of its focus to education," Philip Sieff, a lawyer who negotiated the deal, said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Both highly deserved.

The Guardian

The shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, described both appointments as "highly deserved" on Twitter.

The Guardian

Gov. Tom Corbett is trying to force the N.C.A.A. to revoke the highly deserved sanctions imposed on Penn State.

The New York Times

Spending time with him is portrayed as the chance of a lifetime and hard working, relatable people receive highly deserved and needed gifts.

University of California, Berkeley

He's just rattled in a highly deserved 3 on 12 after going straight for the pin with his no-nonsense approach.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly deserving" to emphasize that someone or something has earned a significant reward or recognition. For stronger impact, consider pairing it with specific achievements or qualities.

Common error

While grammatically sound, avoid using "highly deserving" in very casual conversations. It can sound overly formal or even sarcastic in informal settings; opt for simpler phrases like 'totally earns it' or 'well-deserved' instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly deserving" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to emphasize the extent to which someone or something merits a particular outcome or reward. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highly deserving" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to express a strong sentiment that someone or something has truly earned a reward or recognition. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources like the New York Times and The Guardian. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to formal communication and can be replaced with alternatives like "eminently worthy" or "justifiably deserving" depending on the specific context. Remember to reserve its use for situations where genuine merit is clear, avoiding overuse in informal settings or sarcastic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

justifiably deserving

Adds emphasis on fairness and justification.

eminently worthy

Emphasizes the high degree of worthiness.

exceptionally creditable

Shows an unusual degree of creditability.

amply qualified

Focuses on the possession of necessary skills or qualities.

truly commendable

Highlights the admirable nature of the subject.

thoroughly meritorious

Highlights the praiseworthy nature of the subject.

fully warranted

Focuses on the assurance that the subject merits attention.

outstandingly suitable

Points out an excellent level of suitability.

richly entitled

Suggests a strong claim or right to something.

utterly befitting

Indicates something is completely appropriate or suitable.

FAQs

How can I use "highly deserving" in a sentence?

You can use "highly deserving" to describe someone or something that has earned a significant reward or recognition, as in "The scholarship recipient is "highly deserving" of this opportunity because of her dedication and hard work".

What are some alternatives to "highly deserving"?

Some alternatives to "highly deserving" include "justifiably deserving", "eminently worthy", or simply "well-deserved", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "highly deserving" or "well deserving"?

"Highly deserving" emphasizes a greater degree of merit compared to "well deserving". While both are correct, "highly deserving" adds more emphasis.

Can "highly deserving" be used sarcastically?

Yes, like many phrases, "highly deserving" can be used sarcastically if the tone and context suggest the opposite of genuine merit. However, in most formal writing, it's used sincerely.