Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
a. deserved
Usage examples of "well-earned".
His long bout with seasickness and his general hatefulness had made me forget, in our days at the gymnasium, Cassini had a well-earned reputation as a brave man.
United States Secretary of State Helena Eckert treated herself to a long, well-earned nap.
The heroic American ace, Raoul Lufbery, wearing his well-earned decorations just after an official presentation.
Instead of ignoble death and defeat this day, our sons and allies are but hours away from seeing the head of our enemy, Agamemnon, lifted high on a spike, while our Thracians and Trojans and Pelasgians and Cicones and Paeonians and Paphlagonians and Halizonians have lived to watch the end of this long war at last, and soon will be raking up the gold of defeated Argives, soon will be sweeping up the well-earned armor of Agamemnon and his men.
So Erick had won over everyone, but there was still one who looked at him from the corner of his eyes and always with a look of wrath, for a few days after Organ-Sunday, the Mayor had ordered that Churi should appear before him, and the bold Churi could hardly keep on his feet when he had to appear before the judicial tribunal, for he expected to receive the well-earned punishment from the strong hand of the Mayor.
Gilwyn and Figgis took a well-earned rest. Though the library remained open, they were no longer available to help patrons.
Professor Burke ran forward automatically, fielded the ball adeptly, held it until the runner had made a well-earned circuit of the coconut bases, and threw it to the shouting pitcher.
She pushed her way back through the throng of starling-voiced chatterers fortified by a sense of well-earned victory.
Bildad, as I hinted before, had concluded his adventurous career by wholly retiring from active life at the goodly age of sixty, and dedicating his remaining days to the quiet receiving of his well-earned income.
If one were lucky, one could burn them all by morning, new and old, and wake with a light conscience, an empty purse, and a well-earned headache.
Ttomalss let his mouth fall open in a long laugh, which he thought well-earned.
After twenty years of attending head-on collisions, Jim Tile had a well-earned aversion to human body parts.