as in deserved
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong
the punishment, although harsh, was entirely merited
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Recent Examples of merited
Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
After the game, Self admitted that the first technical was merited but felt that the second was a stretch.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 4 Mar. 2026
High school prospects who previously would have merited Football Championship Subdivision scholarship offers now are only getting Division II offers, and those who before the portal were worthy of Division II offers are getting shut out.
—Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Their chili crunch chicken nuggets merited a special visit from Guy Fieri last year.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Feb. 2026
A little skepticism could be merited now.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Shuttle launches rarely merited prolonged attention in the national news.
—Harvey Young, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
Yes, there were a few on Sunday night that merited free throws.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Avicii would need to wait a few more decades to qualify, his beats surely merited a place.
—Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
An attorney for the family, Jamal Tooson, conceded that the victim’s actions possibly merited arrest or a citation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
After the game, Self admitted that the first technical was merited but felt that the second was a stretch.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 4 Mar. 2026
High school prospects who previously would have merited Football Championship Subdivision scholarship offers now are only getting Division II offers, and those who before the portal were worthy of Division II offers are getting shut out.
—Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Their chili crunch chicken nuggets merited a special visit from Guy Fieri last year.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Feb. 2026
A little skepticism could be merited now.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Shuttle launches rarely merited prolonged attention in the national news.
—Harvey Young, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
Yes, there were a few on Sunday night that merited free throws.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Avicii would need to wait a few more decades to qualify, his beats surely merited a place.
—Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merited
Adjective
-
That is definitely well deserved.—
Langston Wertz Jr,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Every award was absolutely deserved.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This Iran war was neither justified nor necessary.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The Ivorian’s fall was less pronounced than Cunha’s but no less justified, but no foul was given.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Merited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merited. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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