meritorious

[ mer-i-tawr-ee-uh s, -tohr- ]

/ ˌmɛr ɪˈtɔr i əs, -ˈtoʊr- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR meritorious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

Nearby words

Origin of meritorious

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin meritōrius on hire. See merit, -tory¹, -ous

Related forms

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

Can be confusedmeritorious meretricious

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

Examples from the Web for meritorious

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

The man is most meritorious who is virtuous with the least effort—provided always that he has the normal passions of a man.
A Review of the Systems of Ethics Founded on the Theory of Evolution|C. M. Williams
He 365 had expected nothing for his meritorious service, and he found himself in a position of trust and responsibility.
Stand By The Union|Oliver Optic
In 1856 he published a small duodecimo volume of meritorious verses, with the title, "Sparks from Nature's Fire."
The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume VI|Various
Compensation may relieve the hardships of meritorious classes, or of individual cases; nor can I object.
Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 7 (of 20)|Charles Sumner
Now, suppose six-feet-two conqueror, and five-feet-eight beaten; would Sayers have been a whit the less gallant and meritorious?
Roundabout Papers|William Makepeace Thackeray

British Dictionary definitions for meritorious

meritorious

/ (ˌmɛrɪˈtɔːrɪəs) /

adjective

praiseworthy; showing merit

Derived Formsmeritoriously, 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

Word Origin and History for meritorious

meritorious

adj.

early 15c., "deserving of divine grace," from Latin meritorius "that for which money is paid, that by which money is earned," from meritus, past participle of merere "to earn" (see merit (n.)). Related: Meritoriously; meritoriousness.

meritorious

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of meritorious

Examples from the Web for meritorious

British Dictionary definitions for meritorious

meritorious

adjective

Word Origin for meritorious

Word Origin and History for meritorious

meritorious