often used ironically Worthy of being treated in a particular way:
— The deserving poor.
— A deserving cause.

synonym: worth.

Roget 924: having a right to etc. v.; entitled to; claiming; deserving, meriting, worthy of.    privileged, allowed, sanctioned, warranted, authorized; ordained, prescribed, constitutional, chartered, enfranchised.    prescriptive, presumptive; absolute, indefeasible; unalienable, inalienable; imprescriptible^†, inviolable, unimpeachable, unchallenged; sacrosanct.    due to, merited, deserved, condign, richly deserved.    allowable etc. (permitted) 760; lawful, licit, legitimate, legal; legalized etc. (law) 963.    square, unexceptionable, right; equitable etc. 922; due, en r gle; fit, fitting; correct, proper, meet, befitting, becoming, seemly; decorous; creditable, up to the mark, right as a trivet; just the thing, quite the thing; selon les r gles [Fr.].    ... show more

Roget 944: virtuous, good; innocent etc. 946; meritorious, deserving, worthy, desertful^†, correct; dutiful, duteous; moral; right, righteous, right-minded; well-intentioned, creditable, laudable, commendable, praiseworthy; above all praise, beyond all praise; excellent, admirable; sterling, pure, noble; whole-souled^†.    exemplary; matchless, peerless; saintly, saint-like; heaven-born, angelic, seraphic, godlike.    ... show more