meritorious

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

/ ˌmɛr ɪˈtɔr i əs, -ˈtoʊr- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for meritorious on Thesaurus.com

adjective

deserving praise, reward, esteem, etc.; praiseworthy: to receive a gift for meritorious service.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of meritorious

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, -ory¹, -ous

OTHER WORDS FROM meritorious

mer·i·to·ri·ous·ly, adverbmer·i·to·ri·ous·ness, nounun·mer·i·to·ri·ous, adjectiveun·mer·i·to·ri·ous·ly, adverb

un·mer·i·to·ri·ous·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH meritorious

meritorious , meretricious

Words nearby meritorious

merit, merit badge, meritocracy, meritocrat, meritocratic, meritorious, merit pay, merits, merits docket, merit system, merk

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use meritorious in a sentence

As you can imagine, a fair amount of the requests are not meritorious.
With 12 men exonerated, the force behind Maryland’s Innocence Project hangs it up|Tim Prudente|June 3, 2021|Washington Post
But highest profile does not mean most judicially meritorious.
Supreme Court to Gay-Marriage Foes: Get Lost|Jay Michaelson|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ibrahim Kalin, and advisor to Erdogan, spoke of a “meritorious isolation” of the country.
Erdogan’s Foreign Policy Reset|Thomas Seibert|January 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Queen was so impressed that she had a watch inscribed to Miss Eagle for ‘meritorious and extraordinary clairvoyance.’
How Queen Victoria's Affection For John Brown Sprang From His Contact With Dead Albert's Shade|Tom Sykes|June 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST

“Meritorious promotions are now meritorious if you can believe it,” he said.
Chicago Police Say Shooting Deaths Are Declining|Michael Daly|May 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The reforms that Howard advocates, meritorious as they are, require political support to be enacted.
Just Use Your Common Sense|Henry Stern|October 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
He was created baron Tilbury by Charles I for meritorious services.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Economy was his strong point and he observed it in his public and private life with meritorious consistency.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
What is there so superior or so meritorious in the attitude of a religious man towards God?
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
The voluntary renouncement of earthly goods alone is meritorious before God.
Mary, Help of Christians|Various
Verily this is a meritorious deed, and therefore hast thou been delivered into my hands.
Confessions of a Thug|Philip Meadows Taylor

British Dictionary definitions for meritorious

meritorious

/ (ˌmɛrɪˈtɔːrɪəs) /

adjective

praiseworthy; showing merit

Derived forms of meritorious

meritoriously, adverbmeritoriousness, noun

Word Origin for meritorious

C15: from Latin meritōrius earning money

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

meritorious

Origin of meritorious

OTHER WORDS FROM meritorious

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH meritorious

Words nearby meritorious

Words related to meritorious

How to use meritorious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for meritorious

Derived forms of meritorious

Word Origin for meritorious