as in weakness
a defect in character
my keyboarding has the advantage of speed but the demerit of inaccuracy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demerit
Restaurants that receive more than 30 demerits are required to immediately fix the most critical violations and start corrective procedures on all the other violations within 48 hours.
—
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
India’s wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant received a demerit point from the ICC after the first Test at Headingley for throwing the ball on the floor in frustration after umpire Paul Reiffel had inspected it and turned down his request for a replacement.
—James Wallace, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025
Food and diet researchers are also criticizing the direction the National Institutes of Health are going in possibly stifling debate regarding the merits and demerits of different foods.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Extra demerits for making such statements at a music festival.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demerit
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
India’s wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant received a demerit point from the ICC after the first Test at Headingley for throwing the ball on the floor in frustration after umpire Paul Reiffel had inspected it and turned down his request for a replacement.
—James Wallace, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025
Food and diet researchers are also criticizing the direction the National Institutes of Health are going in possibly stifling debate regarding the merits and demerits of different foods.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Extra demerits for making such statements at a music festival.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demerit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demerit
Noun
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This relationship between a military’s combat troop and support personnel is a glaring weakness of the proposal.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
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Adductor dysfunction — whether from weakness or tightness — can create problems that extend far beyond your inner thighs.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Hayward fault is one of the most closely monitored in California due to its proximity to dense urban centers.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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But some issues aren't the appliance's fault, Taylor said.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Their sins will be washed away by the waters of liberty.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
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Maybe she’s being punished for her sin?—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Advertisement The contrast was on display in the session’s opening moments, when Annalena Baerbock, the General Assembly’s president, urged delegates not to give in to despair about the institution’s shortcomings.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
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Further still, Karty complicated their offensive shortcomings by striking knuckleball kickoffs that return specialists Tank Bigsby and John Metchie III could not handle.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Humor savors an infirmity — a foible, a failing, a venality, a flaw.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
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The Broncos' late failings weren't entirely on Sean Payton, who was trending towards an F here before unleashing fire and fury on the Chargers with the Nix-to-Sutton fake pitch at the end of the first half.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Elimination can take longer for people who eat a lot of salt, have kidney disease or a potassium deficiency, or are dehydrated.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
26 Sep. 2025
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That’s a bad recipe for a CU team that’s yet to solve its deficiencies in the trenches.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demerit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demerit. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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