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
Extra demerits for making such statements at a music festival.
—
Thania Garcia, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
The report compiled by the Star-Telegram contains data from June 29 through July 5 and 144 inspections
Fort Worth’s restaurants function on a demerit system: Zero demerits is considered a perfect score.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 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
One Fort Worth restaurant received more than 30 demerits during June 15-21 inspections, and roaches were found at others, according to data from the city compiled by the Star-Telegram.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for demerit
Thania Garcia, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
The report compiled by the Star-Telegram contains data from June 29 through July 5 and 144 inspections
Fort Worth’s restaurants function on a demerit system: Zero demerits is considered a perfect score.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 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
One Fort Worth restaurant received more than 30 demerits during June 15-21 inspections, and roaches were found at others, according to data from the city compiled by the Star-Telegram.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for demerit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demerit
Noun
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At the same time, the labor market has shown growing signs of weakness.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
21 Aug. 2025
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Until recently, in fact, many people considered empathy in a leader to be a weakness rather than a strength.—
Toby Lester,
Harvard Business Review,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The cards were eventually replaced with new artwork from the same artist, who The Pokémon Company reiterated is not at fault for the alleged plagiarism.—
Oliver Brandt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
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But said momentum can also evaporate quickly through no fault of their own.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But when Wonderboy has a life-altering encounter that exposes the cracks in their righteous facade, the women who love them reveal a deeper truth about the grip of patriarchy, silence, and generational sin.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
30 Aug. 2025
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None of these things are the least bit ahistorical, and all of them have been made incalculably worse by a world that seeks to seal its crimes in a bubble — to disguise its worst sins behind a supposed lack of precedent.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Especially after dealing with adversity and shortcomings.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
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Professional emergency management is essential The face of the federal government’s shortcomings in responding to Hurricane Katrina was then-FEMA Administrator Michael Brown.—
Eric Kevin Stern,
The Conversation,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Its digital failings look even more stark by comparison.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 Aug. 2025
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Woodland, who had surgery in September 2023 to remove a brain tumor, remains optimistic about his future in golf despite his failing to qualify for the playoffs.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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If your hair loss is down to certain nutrient deficiencies, adopting a healthy diet for your hair can help.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
20 Aug. 2025
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Luce tells the story of Brzezinski prodding Carter ahead of the debate to push Ford on the deficiencies of his (and Kissinger’s) détente with Moscow and attention to human rights issues.—
Niall Ferguson,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demerit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demerit. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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