MERIT Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

merit 1 of 2

noun

ˈmer-ət

Definition of merit

as in distinction

a quality that gives something special worth this mystery novel at least has the merit of an original plot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in value

the relative usefulness or importance of something as judged by specific qualities that idea has some merit, so let's explore it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

merit

2 of 2

verb

as in to deserve

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of merit

Noun

Large public Southern universities can offer substantial merit scholarships, including to out-of-state students, while such awards can be much harder to come by at some elite private universities. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 With interest rates comparable to the top CD accounts, savers may be wondering about the merits of transferring their $40,000 into a high-yield savings account instead. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Verb

City won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup last season, but Gvardiol’s standards had led him to wonder whether, in normal circumstances, those celebrations would have been merited without a Premier League or Champions League. — Sam Lee, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 One other significant finding that Mitchell said merits further investigation is an area of red discoloration on tissue at the back of Wells' head by the occipital bone. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for merit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for merit

Noun

Corruption talk blurs the distinctions between these three distinct things.

— Robert Boatright, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
For Leo, that distinction comes from making the highly recognizable papal wardrobe part of his own public style.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of distinction

Noun

Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority CEO Doug Kreulen said Parton’s life exemplified the values the airport seeks to nurture.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026
While several major Wall Street financial institutions are set to report their earnings this week, analysts told CNBC that the market is currently more focused on tech stocks, which now need to prove their value.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of value

Noun

Thanks to my friends’ beloved babies and the perks of my job—which have included putting together a list of essential children’s books—I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of reading with children.

— Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Fame was of prime importance to the ancient Greeks, and Wilson is the rare classical scholar who has firsthand knowledge of a public life.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of importance

Noun

Alongside them, an 82-year-old lawmaker wages a final battle against powerful religious opposition to change the law — and the belief that endurance is a virtue.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
And ads paid for by the prediction market and gambling industries don’t tout the virtues of those industries.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of virtue

Browse Nearby Words

meridians

merit

merited

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Merit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merit. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of merit

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes