Merited — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective

Meaning & Definition of Merited

Merited (verb)

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

Merited (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong

    "the punishment, although harsh, was entirely merited"

    similar: competent, condign, deserved, due, fair, just, justified, right, rightful, warranted
    related: applicable, appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, meet, proper, requisite, suitable, lawful, legal, legitimate, accurate, correct, true, rhadamanthine, strict, stringent, uncompromising, equitable, impartial, square
    opposite: undeserved, undue, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited, unwarranted
    near: incoherent, incorrect, irrelative, irrelevant, improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, indefensible, unjustifiable, unreasonable, unsuitable, biased, inequitable, partial, unequal, arbitrary, despotic, illegitimate, unlawful

Merited (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: deserved, earned, rated
    related: entitled, qualified

Related Entry: Merit (verb)

Merit is a different word from Merited. The synonyms below are for merit, not for merited.

  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 Merited

The most common words with a similar meaning to Merited:

competent, condign, deserved, due, fair, just, justified, right, rightful, warranted, earned, rated

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Merited

Words with the opposite meaning of Merited:

undeserved, undue, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited, unwarranted

Related Words for Merited

applicable, appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, meet, proper, requisite, suitable, lawful, legal, legitimate, accurate, correct, true, rhadamanthine, strict, stringent, uncompromising, equitable, impartial, square, entitled, qualified

Near Antonyms of Merited

incoherent, incorrect, irrelative, irrelevant, improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, indefensible, unjustifiable, unreasonable, unsuitable, biased, inequitable, partial, unequal, arbitrary, despotic, illegitimate, unlawful

Word Forms of Merited

Inflections: meriting, merits

Origin & Etymology of Merited

Middle French meriter, from merite merit:1

First known use: 1526t

Frequently Asked Questions about Merited

What does "Merited" mean?

"Merited" means to be worthy of or entitled or liable to, earn. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to be worthy of or entitled or liable to, earn. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Merited"?

Other words for "Merited" include competent, condign, deserved, due, fair, just, justified and right. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Merited" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Merited"?

There are 36 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Merited". Common alternatives include competent, condign, deserved, due, fair, just, justified, right, rightful and warranted.

What is the opposite of "Merited"?

Antonyms of "Merited" include undeserved, undue, unfair, unjust, unjustified, unmerited and unwarranted. Near antonyms include incoherent, incorrect, irrelative and irrelevant.

How do you use "Merited" in a sentence?

Examples of "Merited" in a sentence: "the punishment, although harsh, was entirely merited"; "that selfless act of heroism merited a public ceremony to honor the young swimmer".

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

"Merited" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

What is the origin of the word "Merited"?

"Merited" comes from Middle French meriter, from merite merit:1. First known use: 1526t.

What is another word for "Merited" meaning "being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong"?

When "Merited" (adjective) means being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong, synonyms include competent, condign, deserved, due, fair and just. Opposites in this sense include undeserved, undue, unfair and unjust.