undeserved
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undeserved
Describes something that one has not deserved, whether positive (praise, victory) or negative (criticism, defeat). It happens without corresponding achievement or a just reason.
Die Mannschaft hat das Spiel nach großem Kampf unverdient verloren.
After a great fight, the team undeservedly lost the game.
The word is made up of the prefix 'un-' (not) and 'verdient' (deserved). 'Verdient' is the past participle of 'verdienen' (to earn/deserve). So 'unverdient' literally means 'not deserved'.
Er erhielt viel Lob, das er aber als unverdient empfand.
He received a lot of praise, but he felt it was undeserved.
'Unverdient' (undeserved) can refer to both positive and negative things. You can celebrate an 'unverdienten Sieg' (undeserved victory), but also suffer an 'unverdiente Niederlage' (undeserved defeat).
Seine harte Kritik war völlig unverdient.
His harsh criticism was completely undeserved.
'Unverdient' (undeserved) can stand not only as an adjective before a noun, but also as an adverb that modifies a verb. It then describes how an action happens.
Die Mannschaft hat das Finale unverdient verloren.
The team undeservedly lost the final.
unauthorized / unjustified
When referring to criticism, unberechtigt (unjustified) rejects the statement because it lacks a factual basis. Unverdient (undeserved), by contrast, emphasizes that the person concerned gave no reason for the criticism through their performance or behavior.
Die Kritik an ihrem Bericht ist unverdient, denn sie hat sehr sorgfältig gearbeitet.
The criticism of her report is undeserved because she worked very carefully.
Die Kritik an ihrem Bericht ist unberechtigt, denn alle Angaben stimmen.
The criticism of her report is unjustified because all the information is correct.
