undeserving

IPA/ˌʌndɪˈzɜːvɪŋ/
KK[ˌʌndɪzˈɚvɪŋ]IPA/ˌʌndɪˈzɜːrvɪŋ/

undeserving — adjective

  • undeservingpositive
  • more undeservingcomparative
  • most undeservingsuperlative

1. if someone is undeserving of something, they should not receive it because they

1.形容詞B2
釋義

if someone is undeserving of something, they should not receive it because they have not done anything to earn it — often said when a person gets praise, help, or a reward that feels unfair to others.

例句

Asher felt undeserving of the promotion since he joined the company just six months ago.

pattern: be undeserving of [noun phrase] after linking verb

The committee judged the proposal undeserving of public funding because of its weak research design.

同義詞
  • unworthy

    stronger than 'undeserving', often implies a lack of inherent moral worth rather than simply not having earned something

  • not meriting

    more formal and less common; used in formal or written contexts

  • not entitled to

    focuses on a lack of right or privilege rather than lack of earned qualification

反義詞
  • deserving

    direct opposite; having earned something through effort or merit

  • worthy

    broader in meaning; having sufficient merit or value

文法句型

be + undeserving + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

The subject of 'undeserving' can be a person (someone who does not merit a reward) or a thing (an idea, proposal, or work that lacks sufficient quality). The word is almost always followed by the preposition 'of', not 'for'.

常見錯誤

❌He is undeserving for the award.
✅He is undeserving of the award.
💡'Undeserving' takes the preposition 'of', not 'for'.
❌She felt undeserving the prize.
✅She felt undeserving of the prize.
💡The preposition 'of' is required after 'undeserving'.