thoroughly earned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "thoroughly earned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something has been obtained through significant effort or merit. Example: "After years of hard work and dedication, she felt that her promotion was thoroughly earned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It is a timeless and important novel and one which has thoroughly earned its iconic status.

The Guardian

Bradford showed there is nothing wrong with their character, replying with a slightly fortunate try for Paul but one that was thoroughly earned by the unstinting efforts of Peacock and Stuart Fielden.

The Guardian - Sport

He had the admiration of his peers, the affection of much of the world and an eight-figure bank account, none of which were anything less than fully deserved and thoroughly earned.

The Guardian - Music

If No Country for Old Men hadn't been so brilliant, and if the Coen brothers didn't in any case have such a hard-won and thoroughly earned reputation as distinctive and intelligent film-makers, this wouldn't have felt like such a letdown.

The Guardian - Film

Charlie Christie managed the club for 19 months between Brewster's spells in charge and has thoroughly earned the title 'Mr Inverness Caley Thistle'.

BBC

The party leaders -- including Labour's Ed Miliband and Conservative leader and current Prime Minister David Cameron -- have been heaped with ridicule, and sometimes thoroughly earned it, in the build-up to the 2015 election.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

That ending is thoroughly, painfully earned through the accumulation of losses, from little ("the fluster / of lost door keys") to huge – the losing of "you" in that final moment – "you" being a lover, one assumes.

The Guardian - Books

Poirier proved to be too much for Duffy, dominating him thoroughly and earning a unanimous decision win.

Los Angeles Times

That ended the game as a contest and earned a thoroughly deserved three points for Inverness CT.

BBC

An online GamePro review in 2000 remarked that while the game's graphics had not aged well, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable game, earning it a perfect "fun factor" score and an Editor's Choice award.

Wikipedia

Public-sector work, which used to be considered an oddball speciality, has become thoroughly mainstream: worldwide, in 1995, it earned $242m for KPMG Peat Marwick, $224m for Andersen Consulting and $171m for Coopers & Lybrand.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thoroughly earned" to emphasize that something positive was achieved through considerable effort, skill, or merit. It adds a layer of deservedness to the accomplishment.

Common error

Avoid using "thoroughly earned" in very casual conversations or informal writing. Its slightly formal tone may sound out of place. Consider using simpler alternatives like "well-deserved" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thoroughly earned" functions as an intensifier (thoroughly) modifying a past participle (earned), indicating that something has been acquired or achieved through significant effort and is entirely justified. Ludwig examples illustrate its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Sport

8%

Books

4%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "thoroughly earned" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, used to emphasize that something has been obtained through considerable effort or merit. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts but can also appear in sports and book-related discussions. Ludwig AI validates the correct usage. While "thoroughly earned" adds emphasis to the legitimacy and deservedness of an achievement, related alternatives such as "well-deserved" or "rightfully gained" may be more suitable for informal conversations or where a less formal tone is preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well-deserved

Focuses on the deserving aspect of the achievement rather than the effort involved.

fully merited

Highlights that something is completely justified and warrants the positive outcome.

rightfully gained

Emphasizes the legitimacy and fairness of the acquisition.

justly deserved

Similar to well-deserved but with a stronger sense of justice or fairness.

fairly won

Highlights the fairness and equity involved in achieving something.

legitimately obtained

Focuses on the legal and proper manner in which something was acquired.

earnestly acquired

Emphasizes the sincerity and effort put into achieving something.

hard-earned

Highlights the effort and difficulty involved in achieving something.

richly deserved

Implies that the positive outcome is particularly fitting or appropriate.

deservedly achieved

Focuses on that someone achieve something that they deserve.

FAQs

How can I use "thoroughly earned" in a sentence?

Use "thoroughly earned" to emphasize that something was gained as a result of significant effort or merit. For example, "After years of dedication, her promotion was "well-deserved" and thoroughly earned."

What phrases are similar to "thoroughly earned"?

Alternatives include "well-deserved", "fully merited", or "rightfully gained". Each emphasizes the deserving aspect of an achievement in slightly different ways.

When is it appropriate to use "thoroughly earned"?

It's suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts where you want to highlight the effort and justification behind an achievement. Avoid using it in casual or informal situations where simpler alternatives are more appropriate.

What is the difference between "thoroughly earned" and "deserved"?

"Thoroughly earned" emphasizes the process and effort involved in achieving something, while "deserved" focuses more on the fairness or justice of receiving it. "Thoroughly earned" suggests that one has truly earned something with their hard work, it could be replaced by "hard-earned".