meritorious

[mer-i-tawr-ee-uhs, -tohr-]

adjective

1. deserving praise, reward, esteem, etc.; praiseworthy.

   to receive a gift for meritorious service.

meritorious

/ ˌmɛrɪˈtɔːrɪəs /

adjective

1. praiseworthy; showing merit

Other Word Forms

• meritoriously adverb
• meritoriousness noun
• unmeritorious adjective
• unmeritoriously adverb
• unmeritoriousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of meritorious¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin meritōrius “earning money, for hire, on hire,” from meritus, past participle of merēre, merērī “to receive one's share, be entitled to, deserve, merit.” See merit, -ory ¹, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of meritorious¹

C15: from Latin meritōrius earning money

Example Sentences

The firm has previously said it works “hard to present only meritorious claims and have systems in place to help weed out false or exaggerated allegations.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Presidential Medals of Freedom are awarded to people who have made "exceptionally meritorious contributions to the nation's prosperity, values, or security, world peace, or other significant public or private endeavours".

Read more on BBC

“It’s not that VA employees are less meritorious than they were under Biden,” she said.

Read more on Salon

The firm’s services will be dedicated to helping veterans, Gold Star families, law enforcement offices and first responders — all unarguably meritorious individuals deserving of support.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It all comes down to whether Combs has a meritorious defense,” said Olivarius.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exemplary 
• praiseworthy