Synonyms of merited

merited 1 of 2

adjective

as in deserved

being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong

the punishment, although harsh, was entirely merited

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deserved
• justified
• due
• warranted
• competent
• rightful
• suitable
• appropriate
• proper
• condign
• legal
• fair
• legitimate
• just
• right
• fitting
• meet
• requisite
• applicable
• strict
• apt
• lawful
• correct
• accurate
• equitable
• fit
• true
• stringent
• impartial
• uncompromising
• square
• rhadamanthine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfair
• undue
• unwarranted
• unjust
• undeserved
• unjustified
• irrelevant
• improper
• unreasonable
• unmerited
• inappropriate
• incorrect
• partial
• unsuitable
• unjustifiable
• inapplicable
• incoherent
• unequal
• indefensible
• biased
• arbitrary
• inequitable
• unlawful
• irrelative
• inapt
• despotic
• illegitimate
• inapposite

merited

2 of 2

verb

past tense of merit

as in earned

to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment)

that selfless act of heroism merited a public ceremony to honor the young swimmer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deserved
• earned
• entitled
• rated
• qualified

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of merited

Verb

City won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup last season, but Gvardiol’s standards had led him to wonder whether, in normal circumstances, those celebrations would have been merited without a Premier League or Champions League. — Sam Lee, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

The evaluator concluded the elder Henrichsen likely merited a diagnosis of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026

The Dodgers have two avenues to subtly ease Wrobleski’s workload, when merited, through number of starts and through pitches within a start. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

For this to happen, obesity must have been assumed to be a disease that had risk of significant complications that merited surgical intervention. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026

Within hours, Lovitz’s comment merited over 50 replies from commenters criticizing his own critique. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026

To eject him not only from the match for an action that merited a yellow card at most, but to disqualify him from the next match as well, was patently unjust. — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 11 July 2026

Those exiting have done so for financial reasons, not because their play merited it. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Warsh said Fed officials had changes today that merited holding a presser. — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 17 June 2026