merit

[ mer-it ]

/ ˈmɛr ɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR merit ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

claim to respect and praise; excellence; worth.

something that deserves or justifies a reward or commendation; a commendable quality, act, etc.: The book's only merit is its sincerity.

merits, the inherent rights and wrongs of a matter, as a lawsuit, unobscured by procedural details, technicalities, personal feelings, etc.: The case will be decided on its merits alone.

Often merits. the state or fact of deserving; desert: to treat people according to their merits.

Roman Catholic Church. worthiness of spiritual reward, acquired by righteous acts made under the influence of grace.

Obsolete. something that is deserved, whether good or bad.

verb (used with object)

to be worthy of; deserve.

verb (used without object)

Chiefly Theology. to acquire merit.

adjective

based on merit: a merit raise of $25 a week.

Nearby words

merionethshire, merisis, meristem, meristematic, meristic, merit, merit badge, merit pay, merit system, meritocracy, meritocrat

Origin of merit

1175–1225; Middle English < Latin meritum act worthy of praise (or blame), noun use of neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to earn

SYNONYMS FOR merit

1 value, credit.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR merit ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

mer·it·ed·ly, adverbmer·it·less, adjectivehalf-mer·it·ed, adjectiveo·ver·mer·it, verb

pre·mer·it, verb (used with object)self-mer·it, nounun·mer·it·ed, adjectiveun·mer·it·ed·ly, adverbwell-mer·it·ed, adjective

Synonym study

1. See desert³.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for merit

This is likely a lowball number but it has the merit to illustrate the tradeoff that raising the minimum wage requires.
How a GOP Senate Can Help the Poor|Veronique de Rugy|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Europe, he explained, the circus is considered a high form of art, known for its merit of talents and skilled performers.
How the Circus Got a Social Conscience|Justin Jones|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This point has merit, but quickly begins to strain after the application of any sort of pressure.
There She Is! Deport the Miss America Pageant.|Amy Zimmerman|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But merit aside, you can indict a ham sandwich if it's Republican in the most liberal hotbed of Texas: Travis County.
Peak 'Oops': Explaining the Perry Indictment|Mark McKinnon|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

There is no merit badge yet for Dragon Boat racing, although there is one for canoeing.
Bros Love Dragon Boats|Daniel Genis|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Strange times, when such things were deemed wonderful—so much so as to merit exhibition before the monarch.
The Queer, the Quaint and the Quizzical|Frank H. Stauffer
He who first praises a good book becomingly is next in merit to the author.
Imaginary Conversations and Poems|Walter Savage Landor
But even with him, simplicity, because necessary to speed, is second in merit only to correctness.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 5, No. 28, February, 1860|Various
A lady of rank and merit, who was with us, took the rod after me; she felt it begin to move, and was internally agitated.
Curious Myths of the Middle Ages|Sabine Baring-Gould
I find that connoisseurs are divided in opinion concerning the merit of Powers as a sculptor.
Letters of a Traveller|William Cullen Bryant

British Dictionary definitions for merit

merit

/ (ˈmɛrɪt) /

noun

worth or superior quality; excellencework of great merit

(often plural) a deserving or commendable quality or actjudge him on his merits

Christianity spiritual credit granted or received for good works

the fact or state of deserving; desert

an obsolete word for reward

verb -its, -iting or -ited

(tr) to be worthy of; deservehe merits promotion

Derived Forms

merited, adjectivemeritless, adjective

Word Origin for merit

C13: via Old French from Latin meritum reward, desert, from merēre to deserve

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with merit

merit

see on its merits.

merit

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of merit

SYNONYMS FOR merit

Related forms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for merit

British Dictionary definitions for merit

merit

noun

verb -its, -iting or -ited

Derived Forms

Word Origin for merit

Idioms and Phrases with merit

merit