merit

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [U] (formal) the quality of being good and of deserving praise, reward or admiration: a work of outstanding artistic merit * The plan is entirely without merit. * I want to get the job on merit. * He was awarded a certificate of merit for his piano playing. 2 [C,usually pl.] a good feature that deserves praise, reward or admiration: We will consider each case on its (own) merits (= without considering any other issues, feelings, etc.). * They weighed up the relative merits of the four candidates. verb (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to do sth to deserve praise, attention, etc. SYNDESERVE [VN] He claims that their success was not merited. * The case does not merit further investigation. [also V-ing]