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
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
Class participation earned students a merit; minor infractions, like talking out of turn, led to a demerit.
—
Steven F. Wilson,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
But in a movie that’s worth a meatier discussion, this prof (played by the auteur Eva Victor) gets a demerit for class planning.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for demerit
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
Class participation earned students a merit; minor infractions, like talking out of turn, led to a demerit.
—
Steven F. Wilson,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
But in a movie that’s worth a meatier discussion, this prof (played by the auteur Eva Victor) gets a demerit for class planning.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for demerit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demerit
Noun
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The weakness that began in technology stocks spread through Asia and Europe on Tuesday, while precious metals also came under pressure as investors reassessed the path of interest rates.
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When the complex was being constructed, there were deviations from the building’s original design, contributing to structural weaknesses, the report said.
Noun
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The devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela yesterday were most likely caused by a rupture in one of the country’s most active seismic zones — comprising the Boconó and San Sebastián faults, which extend along Venezuela’s northern coast — according to the USGS.
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The second quake produced nearly triple the shaking energy of the first, with the fault rupturing to the east for more than 100 miles, sending quake energy right into the international airport and La Guaira.
Noun
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The continuation of the Corleone Family saga expands until Michael (Al Pacino) commits the ultimate brotherly sin, but the story’s jump back in time — in which Robert De Niro plays a younger version of Marlon Brando’s Vito — features many of the most iconic sequences in 1970s cinema.
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The movie’s gravest sin, though, might be its very existence.
Noun
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Transformers’ great shortcoming, however, is their staggering computational cost.
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Harvard economist David Deming says any test is bound to reflect the shortcomings and disparities embedded in the American education system.
Noun
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Experts stress that silent burnout is a structural problem, not an individual failing, with access to support being a critical barrier.
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Social media marketing burnout isn’t a personal failing or ordinary job stress.
Noun
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The growing calls for accountability come as a local animal rescue founder has filed a lawsuit against the City of San Jose, alleging serious deficiencies in shelter operations.
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Iron and vitamin D deficiencies can both cause fatigue, but iron deficiency tends to have a more direct and noticeable effect on energy, especially in women with heavy periods.
Cite this Entry
“Demerit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demerit. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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