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
Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
Other shows on the comedy tip like The Big Door Prize, Sunny and Hello Tomorrow dip into the world of science fiction and have their merits.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
Adams was not just a figure in the news, but a man of merits and flaws, with a weakness for Diet Coke and a love of history.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Uhlaender is now hoping US Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the nation’s delegation to Milan-Cortina, will take her case to the International Olympic Committee and persuade the organization of its merits.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
With great performances, the results prove the merits of the film’s making—and the balance of the director-actor relationship.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Each property has its merits and a personality of its own, though.
—Jake Emen, Robb Report, 22 Jan. 2026
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in the Slaughter case, which is on the merits docket, by the end of June, but could issue a ruling in the Cook case, which is on the emergency docket, much sooner.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 21 Jan. 2026
Debate rages about the relative merits of different payment apps.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
That rare price tag merits nothing less.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 7 Jan. 2026
The four-quarter game will be used as a plaintiff exhibit A-Z not only why the Big 12 barely merits one spot in the playoff, but that ultimately the league is not that much different than the Group of Five.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
Hearing it might irritate parents or teachers, but that irritation has no cause and therefore merits no reproach.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Each of these changes, taken individually, merits serious debate.
—Andrew Behar, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Researchers in both countries say the accumulating evidence merits deeper investigation, especially as pigments such as carbon black, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and azo dyes are known to migrate to lymph nodes and remain there for years.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 28 Nov. 2025
The resulting formula is gentle yet effective—and merits bonus points for being fragrance-free.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
This is a shoe that merits in-store try-on if possible; if not, order from somewhere with a good return policy.
—Scott Douglas, Outside, 12 Nov. 2025
Noun
In an area award, nominees are judged individually on their own merits.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026
Other shows on the comedy tip like The Big Door Prize, Sunny and Hello Tomorrow dip into the world of science fiction and have their merits.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
Adams was not just a figure in the news, but a man of merits and flaws, with a weakness for Diet Coke and a love of history.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Uhlaender is now hoping US Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the nation’s delegation to Milan-Cortina, will take her case to the International Olympic Committee and persuade the organization of its merits.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
With great performances, the results prove the merits of the film’s making—and the balance of the director-actor relationship.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Each property has its merits and a personality of its own, though.
—Jake Emen, Robb Report, 22 Jan. 2026
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in the Slaughter case, which is on the merits docket, by the end of June, but could issue a ruling in the Cook case, which is on the emergency docket, much sooner.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 21 Jan. 2026
Debate rages about the relative merits of different payment apps.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
On-the-job safety comes to mind quickly, but consumer product safety merits attention.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
That rare price tag merits nothing less.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 7 Jan. 2026
The four-quarter game will be used as a plaintiff exhibit A-Z not only why the Big 12 barely merits one spot in the playoff, but that ultimately the league is not that much different than the Group of Five.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
Hearing it might irritate parents or teachers, but that irritation has no cause and therefore merits no reproach.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Each of these changes, taken individually, merits serious debate.
—Andrew Behar, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025
Researchers in both countries say the accumulating evidence merits deeper investigation, especially as pigments such as carbon black, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and azo dyes are known to migrate to lymph nodes and remain there for years.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 28 Nov. 2025
The resulting formula is gentle yet effective—and merits bonus points for being fragrance-free.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
This is a shoe that merits in-store try-on if possible; if not, order from somewhere with a good return policy.
—Scott Douglas, Outside, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merits
Noun
-
Attorneys for the plaintiffs say such distinctions are ephemeral, pointing out that YouTube has by far the youngest group of users, many of whom say the platform was an on-ramp to the world of social media.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
These distinctions become more evident when analyzing the financials side by side.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Target’s bedding section is vast, but its beloved in-house Threshold line deserves a closer look.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
-
All Vest proves that this outerwear style deserves a spot in your suitcase.—
Michelle Tchea,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Part of resolving the paradox of why bright-side leadership can deliver unintended negative consequences is understanding the architecture of character needed to ensure that potential virtues do not manifest as vices, a topic of many of my prior Forbes articles.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Having written to the court late last week on the virtues of her husband, Melissa Gilbert was in the courtroom today with other members of the family for the hearing.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Mobility on eclipse day — by car or cruise ship — is one of the most powerful advantages any eclipse chaser can have.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
From a theoretical point of view, the advantages of free trade are as great as ever, but as a practical matter, since tech companies do not import or export many industrial goods or raw materials, free trade in goods matters much less to companies like Meta than to those like Walmart or GM.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Education policies, as well as parenting values focused on grades and test scores as singular markers of achievement may also be to blame.—
Brandon Busteed,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
That support has given me the strength to keep pushing forward, for integrity, accountability, and a sport that truly upholds the values that brought us together to compete.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Merits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merits. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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