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on its merits

Idioms  
  1. Also,. With regard only to the intrinsic quality of something or someone. For example, Who supports it doesn't matter; we have to consider the idea solely on its merits, or The agency doesn't care about her references but wants to hire candidates according to their merits. [Late 1800s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Keaton neither narrates nor appears on camera, a bold choice that assured her film would be judged on its merits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

A group of 63 parliamentarians petitioned the court, which said in a statement that the law was suspended pending a ruling on its merits.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

An attorney for the school district noted that the Monday ruling is a preliminary injunction and the case has yet to be heard on its merits.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2025

This decision was in a "category of its own", Sir James said, and the committee was right to consider the case on its merits.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2025

Science is generated by and devoted to free inquiry: the idea that any hypothesis, no matter how strange, deserves to be considered on its merits.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan