meritorious

[ mer-i-tawr-ee-uhs, -tohr- ]
See synonyms for meritorious on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. deserving praise, reward, esteem, etc.; praiseworthy: to receive a gift for meritorious service.

Origin of meritorious

1
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, adverb
  • mer·i·to·ri·ous·ness, noun
  • un·mer·i·to·ri·ous, adjective
  • un·mer·i·to·ri·ous·ly, adverb
  • un·mer·i·to·ri·ous·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with meritorious

Words Nearby meritorious

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How to use meritorious in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for meritorious

meritorious

/ (ˌmɛrɪˈtɔːrɪəs) /


adjective
  1. praiseworthy; showing merit

Origin of meritorious

1
C15: from Latin meritōrius earning money

Derived forms of meritorious

  • meritoriously, adverb
  • meritoriousness, noun

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