less deserving

USAGE SUMMARY

"less deserving" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that means not having or deserving as much as someone else. For example: "Due to their financial situation, the Smith family was less deserving of the scholarship than other applicants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Many deserving women have gone unrewarded over the years, even as men who were less deserving accumulated such accolades.

Forbes

Like Doyle, they are effectively deemed less deserving.

The Guardian

OPEC is a much bigger target, but it's no less deserving.

The New Yorker

"Just because I've been doing this for less time doesn't mean I'm less deserving.

The Guardian - Sport

Swindon's equaliser also came courtesy of a deflection, but was no less deserving.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's as if women can feel less deserving".

Forbes

The boss gave the promotion to someone less deserving.

HuffPost

Neither of us thought the faux refugees made the real refugees less deserving.

Huffington Post

In several interviews, young adults were compared favourably to older persons with addiction problems, who were seen as less deserving.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

I'll get to who is less deserving than the rest of us in a moment.

Huffington Post

It noted the global perception of 'middle-income countries' is that they need less support and are somehow 'less deserving'.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less deserving", ensure you clearly define the criteria on which the comparison is based to avoid ambiguity and potential misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "less deserving" to make sweeping generalizations about entire groups of people. Instead, focus on specific circumstances and individual cases.

Linguistic Context

"Less deserving" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a lower degree of merit or entitlement compared to others. Ludwig provides numerous examples showing its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less deserving" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a relative lack of merit or entitlement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, including news, academia, and general discourse. While the phrase is versatile, it's crucial to consider the subjective nature of "deservingness" and to use the phrase with sensitivity. Alternatives like "less worthy" or "less fortunate" can offer similar meanings with slightly different connotations. Remember to clearly define your criteria when making comparisons to avoid ambiguity and promote fairness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not as deserving

Rephrasing using "not as" for comparison, maintaining the original meaning.

less worthy

Simple change in adjective to convey the same meaning regarding worth.

not as entitled

Replaces "deserving" with "entitled" but using the same structure.

less meritorious

A more formal synonym emphasizing a lack of achievement or positive qualities.

less entitled

Focus shifts to a lack of entitlement rather than inherent deservingness.

less eligible

Highlights a lack of qualifications or suitability.

less privileged

Highlights a lack of advantages or benefits.

less fortunate

Emphasizes a lack of good luck or favorable circumstances.

less favored

Suggests a lack of preference or preferential treatment.

secondary deserving

Adding secondary adjective to explain the different degree

FAQs

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

You can use "less deserving" to compare individuals or groups based on specific criteria, for example, "Due to their higher income, they were considered "less deserving" of financial aid than other applicants".

What are some alternatives to "less deserving"?

Some alternatives include "less worthy", "less entitled", or "less fortunate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to label someone as "less deserving"?

While grammatically correct, labeling someone as "less deserving" can be subjective and potentially insensitive. Always consider the context and the criteria used for comparison.

What's the difference between "less deserving" and "undeserving"?

"Less deserving" implies a relative comparison, suggesting someone deserves something less than others. "Undeserving" implies that someone does not deserve something at all.