Merit — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈmer-ət/ mer·it

Meaning & Definition of Merit

Merit (noun)

  1. a praiseworthy quality, virtue
  2. character or conduct deserving reward, honor, or esteem; also, achievement
  3. a person's qualities, actions, etc. regarded as indicating what the person deserves to receive

Merit (verb)

  1. to be worthy of or entitled or liable to, earn
  2. deserve
  3. to be entitled to reward or honor

Merit (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a quality that gives something special worth

    "this mystery novel at least has the merit of an original plot"

    similar: cardinal virtue, distinction, excellence, excellency, grace, value, virtue
    related: advantage, edge, plus, superiority
    opposite: deficiency, demerit, disvalue
    near: blemish, defect, failing, fault, flaw, drawback, minus, negative

  2. the relative usefulness or importance of something as judged by specific qualities

    "that idea has some merit, so let's explore it"

    similar: account, valuation, value, worth
    related: assessment, estimation, evaluation, excellence, greatness, perfection, consequence, importance, significance, weight, desirability
    near: emptiness, valuelessness, worthlessness, baseness, cheapness, crumminess, inferiority, lousiness, meanness, paltriness, pettiness, poorness, deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, unacceptability

Merit (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment)

    "that selfless act of heroism merited a public ceremony to honor the young swimmer"

    similar: deserve, earn, rate
    related: entitle, qualify

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Merit

The most common words with a similar meaning to Merit:

cardinal virtue, distinction, excellence, excellency, grace, value, virtue, account, valuation, worth, deserve, earn, rate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Merit

Words with the opposite meaning of Merit:

deficiency, demerit, disvalue

Related Words for Merit

advantage, edge, plus, superiority, assessment, estimation, evaluation, greatness, perfection, consequence, importance, significance, weight, desirability, entitle, qualify

Near Antonyms of Merit

blemish, defect, failing, fault, flaw, drawback, minus, negative, emptiness, valuelessness, worthlessness, baseness, cheapness, crumminess, inferiority, lousiness, meanness, paltriness, pettiness, poorness, inadequacy, inadequateness, insufficiency, unacceptability

Word Forms of Merit

Inflections: merits, merited, meriting

Derived words: meritless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Merit

Middle English, from Anglo-French merite, from Latin meritum, from neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to deserve, earn; akin to Greek meiresthai to receive as one's portion, meros part

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Merit

Words & Phrases Containing Merit

merit system, figure of merit, Legion of Merit, Medal for Merit, on merit

Frequently Asked Questions about Merit

What does "Merit" mean?

"Merit" means a praiseworthy quality, virtue. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a praiseworthy quality, virtue. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Merit"?

Other words for "Merit" include cardinal virtue, distinction, excellence, excellency, grace, value, virtue and account. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Merit" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Merit"?

There are 29 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Merit". Common alternatives include cardinal virtue, distinction, excellence, excellency, grace, value, virtue, account, valuation and worth.

What is the opposite of "Merit"?

Antonyms of "Merit" include deficiency, demerit and disvalue. Near antonyms include blemish, defect, failing and fault.

How do you use "Merit" in a sentence?

Examples of "Merit" in a sentence: "this mystery novel at least has the merit of an original plot"; "that idea has some merit, so let's explore it"; "that selfless act of heroism merited a public ceremony to honor the young swimmer".

Is "Merit" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Merit" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Merit" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Merit" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Merit"?

"Merit" is pronounced /ˈmer-ət/ and divided into syllables as mer·it.