merit

8 synonyms and 1 antonym for merit, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A quality that deserves praise, reward, or recognition.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

worth value deserve warrant

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

virtue excellence

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

deservingness meritoriousness

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A quality that deserves praise, reward, or recognition.

“The judges praised the film for its artistic merit and clever script.”

worth virtue excellence value deserve warrant deservingness meritoriousness

Opposites

demerit

2. verb

To deserve or earn something, whether good or bad.

“Your idea merits serious consideration, so let's discuss it at the next meeting.”

deserve

How to use merit

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

on its merits merit a response artistic merit

Etymology

From Middle English merite, ultimately from Latin merere, "to earn or deserve."

Full origin of merit →

Frequently asked questions

What does “merit” mean?

The word “merit” means a quality that deserves praise, reward, or recognition. In plain terms, being good or worthy enough to deserve praise, reward, or attention.

How do you pronounce “merit”?

“Merit” is pronounced MEH-riht (/ˈmɛɹɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “merit” in a sentence?

Here is “merit” used in a sentence: “The proposal has real merit and deserves a closer look.”

What part of speech is “merit”?

Depending on how it is used, “merit” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “merit” come from?

The word “merit” comes from Latin. From Middle English merite, ultimately from Latin merere, "to earn or deserve.".

Is “merit” a common word?

“Merit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “merit” have?

“Merit” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a quality that deserves praise, reward, or recognition.

What is the difference between merit and worth?

Merit is a quality that earns praise, reward, or recognition, so it implies deserving something. Worth is the value something has, whether or not anyone rewards it. A plan can have merit even if its practical worth is small, and an heirloom can have worth without any merit involved.

When should you use "merit" instead of "deserve"?

As verbs both mean to be worthy of something, good or bad. "Merit" is more formal and slightly more detached, common in written English: "the proposal merits serious consideration". "Deserve" is the everyday word and is preferred when talking about people's feelings or fairness: "she deserves an apology".

People also searched

value worth deserve warrant excellence virtue demerit

Nearby words

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