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
T. H. Breen,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
Each one has its merits and drawbacks, and some have become increasingly important as the climate heats up.
—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
Trump sued his own Internal Revenue Service over the unauthorized release of his tax returns — and then, before the case could even be heard on the merits, his Justice Department settled it on his behalf.
—
Lynn Schmidt,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
But the justices, in a 5-4 decision, left the door open to Cook being fired on the merits.
—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
Last term, when there were both more cases and more referrals to the full court, the appeals to the shadow docket finally overtook those to the merits docket.
—
Ken B. Morales,
ProPublica,
1 July 2026
On the merits of his vitality, Paul lands a plum commission from a design magazine.
—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
Wilkins was quick to defend her participation and her merits as a musical act.
—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
24 June 2026
Cases granted certiorari move onto the merits stage.
—
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
19 June 2026
The Central Hotel Queenstown also merits a mention, despite not quite being as central as the name suggests.
—
Steve Madgwick,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
The skill for Vinicius Junior’s equaliser in that match, a brutally efficient display of finishing, also merits a mention, as does Nestory Irankunda’s incredible pace to score Australia’s opener against Turkey.
—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
Peaches and blueberries spiced with cinnamon and brown sugar marry underneath pillowy pastry to create a dessert that merits your heartiest scoop of vanilla ice cream.
—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Communicate Feedback Fairly This directive is emotionally and ethically adjacent to the previous one but merits its own category.
—
Bruce Weinstein,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Cousins thinks that still-prevalent bias merits rethinking.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
23 May 2026
At the New Mexico resort nestled in the southernmost Rockies, though, the trail merits only a single black diamond.
—
Michelle Ruiz,
Vogue,
7 May 2026
While the char siu and pork belly draw plenty of attention — as well as regular lines out the door — her panang curry merits equal regard.
—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Noun
His work tells the Revolutionary story through thousands of Americans debating the merits of political change, weighing the risks of armed resistance, and reassuring friends and neighbors that they were engaged in a worthy cause.
—
T. H. Breen,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
Each one has its merits and drawbacks, and some have become increasingly important as the climate heats up.
—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
Trump sued his own Internal Revenue Service over the unauthorized release of his tax returns — and then, before the case could even be heard on the merits, his Justice Department settled it on his behalf.
—
Lynn Schmidt,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
But the justices, in a 5-4 decision, left the door open to Cook being fired on the merits.
—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
Last term, when there were both more cases and more referrals to the full court, the appeals to the shadow docket finally overtook those to the merits docket.
—
Ken B. Morales,
ProPublica,
1 July 2026
On the merits of his vitality, Paul lands a plum commission from a design magazine.
—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
Wilkins was quick to defend her participation and her merits as a musical act.
—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
24 June 2026
Cases granted certiorari move onto the merits stage.
—
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
Verb
Following a premiere in the international narrative competition at Tribeca, Sanders’ thoroughly accessible, audience-friendly film should be a popular selection on the fest circuit, and merits thoughtful handling by inclusivity-minded distributors.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
19 June 2026
The Central Hotel Queenstown also merits a mention, despite not quite being as central as the name suggests.
—
Steve Madgwick,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
The skill for Vinicius Junior’s equaliser in that match, a brutally efficient display of finishing, also merits a mention, as does Nestory Irankunda’s incredible pace to score Australia’s opener against Turkey.
—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
15 June 2026
Peaches and blueberries spiced with cinnamon and brown sugar marry underneath pillowy pastry to create a dessert that merits your heartiest scoop of vanilla ice cream.
—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Communicate Feedback Fairly This directive is emotionally and ethically adjacent to the previous one but merits its own category.
—
Bruce Weinstein,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Cousins thinks that still-prevalent bias merits rethinking.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
23 May 2026
At the New Mexico resort nestled in the southernmost Rockies, though, the trail merits only a single black diamond.
—
Michelle Ruiz,
Vogue,
7 May 2026
While the char siu and pork belly draw plenty of attention — as well as regular lines out the door — her panang curry merits equal regard.
—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merits
Noun
-
Those distinctions are often overlooked in public discussions of the case, where the narrative frequently centers on faulty blood testing rather than the specific crimes for which she was convicted.
-
So we're not characterized by geographical distinctions, northern, southern, western, can all have a unity.
Verb
-
There are other options, but regardless of what’s on the table for the future, burnout deserves to be taken seriously rather than explained away out of pride, guilt, or habit.
-
The actress recently stepped out in New York City wearing a nostalgic look that deserves a second glance.
Noun
-
Focusing on the height of quality at every opportunity, KULAKOVSKY is an active articulation of practice, proof that there are many virtues beauty can possess.
-
Qualcomm’s investor day featured video endorsements from the CEOs of Meta and Microsoft, Mark Zuckerberg and Satya Nadella respectively, and senior executives from Amazon and Google extolling the virtues of Qualcomm’s tech.
Noun
-
Those cost advantages, Schackart said, allow Google to charge about 20% to 30% less for excess compute capacity, which is attracting AI unicorns to Google’s offerings, including its cloud business and enterprise services.
-
For example, a 529 plan can offer unmatched tax advantages for education savings, while a custodial brokerage account gives greater flexibility to use funds for major milestones, like a first home or general financial support.
Noun
-
The values imparted to me throughout my public school education — equal opportunity, impartial justice, respect for expertise, basic honesty — have been abandoned by a new breed of politician that has turned governance itself into a blood sport.
-
Companies with larger market cap values, such as the top 25 listed below, generally tend to by more stable, while smaller companies can offer higher volatility, but greater growth potential.
Cite this Entry
“Merits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merits. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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