merit

A good quality or achievement that deserves praise or a reward.

• Your idea has merit.
• We discussed the merits of each proposal.
• The judges praised the film’s artistic merit.

How to use it: merit in something/doing something (There is merit in keeping the plan simple.)

Similar words: worth, value, virtue

Opposites: fault, demerit

Common phrases: have merit, artistic merit, the merit of something

The right to praise or a reward because of your abilities or what you have done.

• She earned her promotion on merit.
• The award recognizes exceptional merit.
• Candidates should be judged by merit rather than family connections.

How to use it: on merit (Staff are promoted on merit.)

Similar words: worthiness, desert

Common phrases: on merit, personal merit, based on merit

A point or mark given to a student for good work or behavior.

• The teacher gave me a merit.
• He earned three merits for excellent homework.
• How many merits do you need for a certificate?

How to use it: a merit for something (She received a merit for helping another pupil.)

Similar words: reward point, credit

Opposites: demerit

Common phrases: earn a merit, award a merit, merit points

If something deserves praise, attention, or another response, it earns that response.

• Your idea merits attention.
• Her courage merited a reward.
• Does this complaint merit further investigation?

How to use it: merit something (The proposal merits serious consideration.)

Similar words: deserve

Common phrases: merit attention, merit consideration, merit well, merit ill