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View definitions for merit

merit

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Example Sentences

The mayor and her team made an offer to our members late last night, which merits further review.

Their argument is usually written off as hypocrisy or bitterness, its merits rarely given the attention it deserves.

From Time

So when you’re reading this, you can breathe a little easier since there are ways to get merit aid.

From Time

It’s a lot easier to have an opinion on cancel culture than it is to have an opinion on the merits of a coronavirus relief package.

There’s merit to that perspective, and it’s clear how a rational person might arrive at that conclusion.

Decorative value is largely incidental to artistic merit as defined by critics.

In the view of some cops, perps merit little concern or sympathy.

This is likely a lowball number but it has the merit to illustrate the tradeoff that raising the minimum wage requires.

In Europe, he explained, the circus is considered a high form of art, known for its merit of talents and skilled performers.

And our gripes about the lack of light in our lives are not without merit — humans truly are solar powered.

We resolved to do our best to merit the good opinion which we thus supposed them to entertain of us.

Mr. Agnew saw the picture, recognised its merit, and wrote a cheque for the full amount asked.

Nor are these defects compensated by any high degree of merit in the delineation of the characters.

A certain cabinet minister being asked why he did not promote merit?

He is thought to be little inferior to Racine in the merit of his dramatic compositions.

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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.

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On this page you'll find 86 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to merit, such as: benefit, dignity, excellence, integrity, quality, and stature.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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