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Definitions

merit

[mer-it] / ˈmɛr ɪt /




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.

See Examples For:

From a business standpoint, analysts see merit to a potential combination, which Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday is currently under discussion.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

Does that mean the administration’s suit has merit?

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026

"We could win with luck, but we won with calmness and with all merit," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

“But I do think there is a lot of merit in combining the companies,” Musk added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

I said I was seeking for the truth, and I was trying to weigh—objectively— everything on its own merit.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

She works on programming art and installations at LAX that showcase the city’s vibrant arts scene, including its literary merits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

"The only way to preserve the district court's ability to grant relief to the United States after a full merits proceeding, therefore, is to segregate the challenged ballots now," Sauer said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

The true test of the deal, according to Srivastava, isn’t its merits at a time of tight AI component supply, but rather whether it will be able to deliver value in a “cooling AI cycle.”

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

As the debate over their merits intensifies, the data centre rollout continues.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

Unlikely to win the battle on its merits, Edison devoted considerable resources to trying to discredit AC in the realm of public relations: AC, he and his supporters asserted, was much more lethal than DC.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

However, Kuwaki more than merited her celebrations in the fading daylight, not that you could have missed her with her mint-green top and luminous green ball.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

The referee used the video assistant referee to review the play and determined it merited a red card.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

This latter group included people with the good sense and courage to express disagreement with the president and urge caution when it was merited.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

Another reason: Dealers increase implied volatility more than is merited to provide themselves with a margin of safety for having to make a market amid murky conditions.

From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026

Then, with a merited sense of victory, Johnson picked up Mr. Clutter’s check and deposited it in his billfold.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

Mental-health professionals are recognizing chatbot delusions and psychosis as a phenomenon meriting further study.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026

In the brand-conscious ‘80s, the right item of designer clothing could make or break a kid’s popularity, meriting a Gartrell name drop in “A Shirt Story,” a Hall of Fame-level episode of “The Cosby Show.”

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2025

"The Court should not mistake the FTC’s litigation gamesmanship for an emergency meriting this Court’s deviation from the ordinary appellate process," the company wrote.

From Reuters ● Jul. 14, 2023

One of the most entertaining teams in the Premier League and fully meriting a place in the Europa League for the first time in Brighton's history.

From BBC ● May 29, 2023

Rising out of these considerations are two others equally meriting attention.

From Old-Fashioned Ethics and Common-Sense Metaphysics With Some of Their Applications by William Thomas Thornton


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