Merited

Synonyms for "merited" (54 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (11)

Adjective(1 words)
deserved

Strong matches (16)

Verb(3 words)
earngarneredjustified
Noun(1 words)
earning

Related words (27)

Noun(1 words)
legitimately earned

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: appropriate, balanced, commendable, condign, defensible.
  • Sentence evidence is available for merited, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "merited".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "merited"

Keep "merited" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "merited" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "merited", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "merited" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

7 relation types

More general

4 entries
descriptive termdeserveobtainqualitative attribute

More specific

9 entries
accoladefundingmerited awardmerited praisemerited recognitionmerited reputationpraisepromotionrecognition

Collocations

9 entries
merited attentionmerited considerationmerited distinctionmerited outcomemerited praisemerited promotionmerited recognitionmerited resultsmerited reward

Inflections

4 entries
meritingmeritsmore meritedmost merited

Derivations

5 entries

Antonyms

1 entries

similar

1 entries

Sample sentences

4 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

Does it follow that I reject all authority? Far from me such a thought. In the matter of boots, I refer to the authority of the bootmaker; concerning houses, canals, or railroads, I consult that of the architect or engineer. For such or such special knowledge I apply to such or such a savant. But I allow neither the bootmaker nor the architect nor the savant to impose his authority upon me. I listen to them freely and with all the respect merited by their intelligence, their character, their knowledge, reserving always my incontestable right of criticism and censure.

Source: tatoeba (10097492)

Although she was merited with many an accolade, we still don’t know what she did to deserve them.

Source: tatoeba (10522452)

It was a merited reward.

Source: wiktionary

Maloney’s moment of magic ensured they did not. For Scotland, who produced the best of what cohesive football there was on the night, it was a merited outcome.

Source: wiktionary

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "merited"?

Closest matches include appropriate, balanced, commendable, condign, defensible.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "merited"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "merited"

Meaning

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