as in distinctions
a quality that gives something special worth
this mystery novel at least has the merit of an original plot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 merits
Andy Browne, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
On its cinematic merits alone, the film would never have generated the profusion of think pieces, explainers, debates, and interviews that have both probed and promoted it in recent weeks.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Still not convinced about the merits of plants?
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
An appellate court has paused the order for now, and at time of publication had yet to rule on the merits.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
That time the justices — three of whom sat with Robinson during the earlier appeal — ruled on the merits of the case.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Better to advance an affordability agenda that is both popular and right on the merits.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Sort of, though the Supreme Court did not address the merits of the birthright citizenship executive order.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Better to advance an affordability agenda that is both popular and right on the merits.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
The undulating glass and steel structure of The National Art Center merits a visit on its own.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
His journey merits its own movie.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
So much merits our contempt, out there and probably in ourselves, too.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Other viewers may be left wondering why all of this merits a full-length movie, or at least one that unconvincingly tries to turn fact into fiction.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
Don Juan Moore/Getty Images To get ahead of the issue, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a ban on all drone flights over the Super Bowl, which has been classified by the federal government as a top special event that merits extensive interagency support.
—Anna Schecter, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
For the Sweden Democrats and their coalition, culture, like borders, merits strategic defense.
—Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
On-the-job safety comes to mind quickly, but consumer product safety merits attention.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
The irony here is that after spending decades lecturing China about the merits of free trade, the US is taking a page out of Beijing’s own state capitalist playbook.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
On its cinematic merits alone, the film would never have generated the profusion of think pieces, explainers, debates, and interviews that have both probed and promoted it in recent weeks.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Still not convinced about the merits of plants?
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
An appellate court has paused the order for now, and at time of publication had yet to rule on the merits.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
That time the justices — three of whom sat with Robinson during the earlier appeal — ruled on the merits of the case.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Better to advance an affordability agenda that is both popular and right on the merits.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Sort of, though the Supreme Court did not address the merits of the birthright citizenship executive order.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Better to advance an affordability agenda that is both popular and right on the merits.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
The 272-page volume lacks an index, but that’s why Steve Jobs invented \⌘ + F; a digital search reveals that George Lucas and his eponymous film studio are name-dropped 31 times, whereas ESPN merits only 17 mentions.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
The undulating glass and steel structure of The National Art Center merits a visit on its own.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
His journey merits its own movie.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
So much merits our contempt, out there and probably in ourselves, too.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Other viewers may be left wondering why all of this merits a full-length movie, or at least one that unconvincingly tries to turn fact into fiction.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
Don Juan Moore/Getty Images To get ahead of the issue, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a ban on all drone flights over the Super Bowl, which has been classified by the federal government as a top special event that merits extensive interagency support.
—Anna Schecter, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
For the Sweden Democrats and their coalition, culture, like borders, merits strategic defense.
—Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026
On-the-job safety comes to mind quickly, but consumer product safety merits attention.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merits
Noun
-
Far more distinctions arise within each group of fungi, which can also supply plants with vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and zinc.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
-
But the distinctions between these visions of the world are diminishing.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After Queta turned in another standout performance in Sunday’s 115-101 win over the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden, Brown stumped for the breakout big man, saying, unprompted, that Queta deserves award consideration.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Which habit deserves a decisive upgrade now?—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But, by the same token, the virtues of the traditional approach, which once hardly needed to be articulated, now stand in greater relief.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The eco-friendly aesthetic was an appealing brand story at first, but the company belatedly realized that analysts were right in saying that Allbirds’ marketing was too focused on sustainability virtues and not enough on the appeal of its shoes.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This approach combines the superior surface properties of tungsten with the structural and economic advantages of other materials.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Making It All Work Sacramento offers many undeniable advantages, including a vibrant cultural scene and abundant urban forests that are hard to find in many other cities.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Review subscriptions and tidy receipts, then update prices or boundaries, because clear values help your compassionate nature avoid overgiving.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The handle calculates the fat and muscle (mass and percentage) in each arm, leg, and your torso, and compares the values to a healthy average based on your body type.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Merits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merits. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
