demerits

noun

plural of demerit
as in weaknesses
a defect in character my keyboarding has the advantage of speed but the demerit of inaccuracy

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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 demerits When the total of demerits exceeds 30, the food establishment fails. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2026 Kimi maxed out on demerits for handling of user data for training, while Copilot scored worst for direct handling of personalized data. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026 Those were the only demerits of the night for Ohtani. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demerits
  1. weaknesses
  2. faults
  3. sins
  4. shortcomings
Noun
  • Drug and other criminal enterprises have taken advantage of the government’s weaknesses.
    — Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Meta is also deploying a red-teaming AI agent that probes its own safeguards for weaknesses bad actors could exploit.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of weaknesses
Noun
  • Facts are faced, faults are noted, death and life are seen and held.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Taylor’s attorney, Barbara Berkowitz, caught up with PEOPLE and shared one of Taylor’s few faults.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of faults
Noun
  • The sins of 2003 were not merely in launching a war but also in how the story was told and masked.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Kaporos is intended to symbolize the transfer of one’s sins to a chicken.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of sins
Noun
  • The Jets, seeking to address their defensive shortcomings, signed safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in the offseason.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Others, including Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who recently launched a crackdown on Venezuelan migrants in his country, will be tempted to stoke xenophobia to deflect blame for policy shortcomings.
    — DAN RESTREPO, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of shortcomings

Browse Nearby Words

demerit
demerits
demesne
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Cite this Entry

“Demerits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demerits. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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