as in distinctions
a quality that gives something special worth
this mystery novel at least has the merit of an original plot
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Recent Examples of merits
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
When a federal district judge threw out Bost's lawsuit in 2022, the decision stemmed from the question of whether the congressman and the electors had the grounds to sue, not the merits of his legal argument about mail-in ballots.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
Then later, after Flores had died, the litigation accuses Freedman of publicly defending himself by betraying attorney-client confidences and misrepresenting the merits of Flores’ own case in the media.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
Those already questioning the merits of the new signings have short memories.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
But while the administration may be skeptical about the merits of such projects for their climate bona fides, carbon removal is nonetheless a growing global industry, driven in large part by interest from high-emissions industries like tech and oil.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Two recent immigration cases highlight the Court’s readiness to intervene before full merits review.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Now, some of these cases are back at the high court to be heard on the merits.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
Oral arguments regarding the merits of the state’s appeal of the lower court decision are scheduled for January.
—Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Another of Kapler’s former Giants coaches who merits consideration is current New York Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson, who played in the Giants’ minor league system and is among the brightest minds in the game.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Gardner’s photograph merits attention.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
The attentive and gracious service merits applause and, along with the exciting Nikkei fare, a swift return visit.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
But this week’s 6,000 exoplanet milestone merits celebration.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The question today is whether the geopolitical West as a category merits similar skepticism.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
The Manoah saga is ongoing and merits thousands of words of its own, but that's not the main story here.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
Mired in controversy over the past week after it was revealed that the school hosted a panel weighing the merits of political violence, Harvard University has several times ignored opportunities to condemn it.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
When a federal district judge threw out Bost's lawsuit in 2022, the decision stemmed from the question of whether the congressman and the electors had the grounds to sue, not the merits of his legal argument about mail-in ballots.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
Then later, after Flores had died, the litigation accuses Freedman of publicly defending himself by betraying attorney-client confidences and misrepresenting the merits of Flores’ own case in the media.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
Those already questioning the merits of the new signings have short memories.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
But while the administration may be skeptical about the merits of such projects for their climate bona fides, carbon removal is nonetheless a growing global industry, driven in large part by interest from high-emissions industries like tech and oil.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Two recent immigration cases highlight the Court’s readiness to intervene before full merits review.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Now, some of these cases are back at the high court to be heard on the merits.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
Oral arguments regarding the merits of the state’s appeal of the lower court decision are scheduled for January.
—Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Every last stitch feels considered on the collaboration penny loafer, and its overall top-quality design merits that $420 price tag… at least in our book.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Another of Kapler’s former Giants coaches who merits consideration is current New York Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson, who played in the Giants’ minor league system and is among the brightest minds in the game.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Gardner’s photograph merits attention.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
The attentive and gracious service merits applause and, along with the exciting Nikkei fare, a swift return visit.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
But this week’s 6,000 exoplanet milestone merits celebration.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The question today is whether the geopolitical West as a category merits similar skepticism.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
The Manoah saga is ongoing and merits thousands of words of its own, but that's not the main story here.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merits
Noun
-
Beyond improving mobility, the transition marked a step forward in gender equality within the police, eliminating visual distinctions and reinforcing that women could perform the same duties as men on the streets of Sweden.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
-
My guess is that those who signed the pledge are unlikely to make fine distinctions.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Michael Busch deserves credit for emerging as a star in the postseason.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Still, the best sports car ever made couldn’t have happened without the 911 SC, and the 911 SC recovered by SFPD deserves a better shot at life from here on out.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Vincent Kompany and his staff have chiselled a perfect role for him, with Diaz contributing not only on an individual basis, but in a way that really accentuates Bayern’s other attacking virtues.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
There is also a growing rhetoric that exhorts the virtues of blue-collar labor.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While magicians use illusions to make objects float, physicists pursue levitation for its practical advantages.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
-
With Jackson and Ringo on the field, Dart and the Giants leveraged matchup advantages that opponents with greater wealths of talent at receiver could exploit even further.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
During interview rounds when applicants showcase their skills through mini projects or tests, the executive values prospective hires who enhance their assignments with the tools.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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So, this is a story about imparting true wealth, including the intrinsic values and skills—motivation, hard work, creativity, risk-taking—that built the fortunes in the first place and that allow those who inherit to bloom.—
Christina Binkley,
Robb Report,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Merits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merits. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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