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
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
In addition to asking for a stay of the lower court’s ruling, Danco Laboratories urged the justices to take the case up on the merits.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 2 May 2026
Both were calm, respectful and attentive during the nearly two-hour hearing, which hashed out the merits of their competing temporary protective orders.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Rather than deciding on the merits, the decision rejected the lawmakers’ claims of injury as not reviewable by the court.
—Jasmine Farrier, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
The Tuesday order is not on the merits of the case challenging the vote, which the Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the day before.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
Weeks before reports that United was considering a deal with American (which rebuffed the idea) Kirby paid a visit to the White House and pitched the merits of the airline merger to Trump himself — an idea the president was said to be receptive to, according to a person briefed on the meeting.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The Supreme Court gave no reasoning, did not weigh on the merits, and stripped over hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans of their TPS, leaving them vulnerable to detention and deportation.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Legal experts and former officials are split largely along ideological lines on the merits of the SPLC prosecution.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
While her sisters are dedicated to love and romance, however that may look to them, Mary mostly seems to tick between wanting to be left alone and wanting to be seen on her own merits.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
In addition to asking for a stay of the lower court’s ruling, Danco Laboratories urged the justices to take the case up on the merits.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 2 May 2026
Both were calm, respectful and attentive during the nearly two-hour hearing, which hashed out the merits of their competing temporary protective orders.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Rather than deciding on the merits, the decision rejected the lawmakers’ claims of injury as not reviewable by the court.
—Jasmine Farrier, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
The Tuesday order is not on the merits of the case challenging the vote, which the Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the day before.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
Weeks before reports that United was considering a deal with American (which rebuffed the idea) Kirby paid a visit to the White House and pitched the merits of the airline merger to Trump himself — an idea the president was said to be receptive to, according to a person briefed on the meeting.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The Supreme Court gave no reasoning, did not weigh on the merits, and stripped over hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans of their TPS, leaving them vulnerable to detention and deportation.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Legal experts and former officials are split largely along ideological lines on the merits of the SPLC prosecution.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
The longest losing streak in 22 years certainly merits some sort of shakeup beyond just the lineup.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merits
Noun
-
Among its many distinctions, SPLC is known for bankrupting the Ku Klux Klan.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Kings narrowly cleared the playoff hurdle with the lowest point total, worst goal differential and other ignominious distinctions among postseason qualifiers in a season where goals and wins, particularly in regulation, were rather infrequent.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Florida deserves better than backroom deals and rushed decisions that sidestep the Constitution.—
Jon Harris Maurer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
This twin-engine beast deserves your full attention.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
If Mickelson was cast as the chief antagonist, Rory McIlroy emerged as the protagonist, the white knight extolling the virtues of the Tour and the golfing establishment.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Even simpler was the milky white porcelain that eventually became the primary production of the Joseon’s official kilns, its austerity felt to be more in keeping with the virtues of Confucianism.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The company’s press releases tout infrasound’s advantages over sprinklers.—
Cyrus Farivar,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
-
But Indianapolis has a couple of advantages that northwest Indiana does not.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Pichai carries strong values into his work—economic uplift, compassion for migrants—and says his quest is to build useful things for as many people as possible.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
6 May 2026
-
And his values had been incubated in an earlier era.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Merits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merits. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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