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Definitions

merit

[mer-it] / ˈmɛr ɪt /

NOUN

advantage

Synonyms

STRONGEST

benefit dignity excellence integrity quality stature talent value virtue worthiness

STRONG

arete asset caliber credit desert excellency good goodness honor perfection worth

WEAK

strong point

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disadvantage dishonor

STRONG

disrespect evil ill repute wickedness worthlessness

WEAK

demerit fault weakness

VERB

be entitled to

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deserve just deserts justify warrant

STRONG

earn incur rate

WEAK

be in line for be worthy get one's comeuppance get one's due get what is coming have a claim have a right have coming

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for merit?

Merit can refer to a good or commendable quality, or someone or something’s worth or value. To say that someone earned something based on merit often means that they earned it based on excellence or performance. Relatedly, the word meritocracy is used to refer to a system (such as a workplace) in which people are thought to be rewarded or advanced based on merit, meaning their talent, ability, or accomplishments—as opposed to aspects of their identity, such as their class. A legal case judged on its merits is one judged on the facts and arguments alone, as opposed to one’s personal feelings, such as about the people involved. Merit can also be used as a verb meaning to deserve or be worthy of something, as in I think this merits a celebration! The word warrant has a similar meaning, but it’s more broadly used (merit is most commonly used in positive contexts).

How is merit different from advantage?

The words merit and advantage are sometimes used in similar ways, such as when discussing a good quality that something or someone has. This is especially the case when comparing things, as in Compared to the other candidates, his one merit/advantage is that he has more experience in the field. However, while advantage is usually used in the context of comparisons, merit can be used more broadly to discuss the qualities of someone or something, regardless of whether they’re being compared.

What is the opposite (antonym) of merit?

With its negating prefix de-, the word demerit suggests a direct opposite of merit, and indeed it can mean the opposite of a good or commendable quality—a fault or culpability. You could say that something has both merits and demerits (good and bad points, pros and cons), but demerit isn’t all that commonly used in this way. More generally, the word merit is often used in contrast to arbitrary or biased reasons for making decisions or judgments, as in His promotion wasn’t based on merit—he’s the boss’s nephew.

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.

Rowbottom’s willingness to move toward culturally uncomfortable material is central to her work, he stressed, treating so-called lowbrow or feminine cultural obsessions not as guilty pleasures, but as material worthy of literary merit.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

Now, they seem to merit little more than a nod.

From Slate • May 26, 2026

But only a few of these films are genuinely worth watching on their own merit.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

The spokesman added Farage periodically receives "nuisance claims of this nature, frequently for relatively modest sums falling within the small claims track and often lacking substantive merit".

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Lawrence replied that “the idea of a federation of democracies may have much practical merit, but... I would not think of using my position as a scientist in furthering such a political movement.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

merit

Frequently Asked Questions

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Vocabulary lists containing merit

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy

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merit

Frequently Asked Questions

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Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing merit

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy

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