demerit

noun

di-ˈmer-ət How to pronounce demerit (audio)
Definition of demeritnext
as in weakness
a defect in character my keyboarding has the advantage of speed but the demerit of inaccuracy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 demerit Fresca Palapa drink stand at 2601 Preston Road scored three demerits and was temporarily closed after health inspectors noted water was not available in the kiosk and there was a lack of water in the three-compartment sink. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026 Lord’s had not previously accumulated any demerit points; the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have 14 days to appeal against the ICC’s sanction. — Paul Newman, New York Times, 9 June 2026 The biggest demerit on season 27 would be the White Locust twist. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026 After a long ride to Maryland in a honey vat, Garth is able to sneak Daisy back inside the school with only a demerit for smoking. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for demerit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demerit
  1. weakness
  2. fault
  3. sin
  4. shortcoming
  5. failing
  6. deficiency
Noun
  • If a bear market arrives shortly after retirement, a cash reserve can allow a family to meet expenses without immediately selling long-term investments into weakness.
    — Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
  • To be sure, efforts to prop up the yen were seen as short-term measures to address the symptoms rather than the root causes of the currency’s weakness.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakness
Noun
  • Deadly fires, often linked to electrical faults or gas cylinder explosions, are common in India where investigators have frequently pointed to safety lapses and inadequate enforcement of fire regulations as contributing to recurring loss of life.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • If Russia behaved badly, that was the fault of its primitive and cruel Asian side, a notion that conveniently created the fiction that Western countries are not capable of similar cruelty.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of fault
Noun
  • In the final season, as the survivors race to bury their sins before rescue arrives and an old flame roars back into town with plans of her own.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
  • And when that dish is chicken, the sin here is serving a dry bird.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • Allar has first-round physical traits, but his two biggest shortcomings are decision making and accuracy.
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This level is often what challenges character development, revealing shortcomings that were not present in less challenging contexts.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of shortcoming
Noun
  • That Chansiri squandered that vast backing can be listed among his abundant failings.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than treating a tired parent’s short fuse as a personal failing, the research suggests sleep, stress and parenting operate as part of a larger system.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of failing
Noun
  • The initiative is intended to identify and treat testosterone deficiencies and optimize physical performance among service members.
    — Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, testosterone deficiency should be diagnosed through both appropriate laboratory testing and symptom evaluation.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of deficiency

Browse Nearby Words

dementia
demerit
demerits
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Cite this Entry

“Demerit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demerit. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of demerit for Spanish Speakers

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