Word
merited
Phoneticsmer·it·ed, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɛɹɪtɪd/
UK/mˈɛɹɪtɪd/
Definition
v. deserving of something, like praise, a reward, or a punishment. You use this when someone has done something that makes them worthy of a specific result.
v. deserving of a particular treatment, reward, or punishment. Often used in formal or academic contexts to justify a specific outcome based on prior actions.
Examples
“The team's hard work merited a promotion.”
“The judge ruled that the defendant's actions merited a harsher sentence than the standard guidelines suggested.”
“While the initial proposal was met with skepticism, the subsequent data proved that the investment merited the risk taken by the board of directors.”
Examples
simple
“The team's hard work merited a promotion.”
contextual
“The judge ruled that the defendant's actions merited a harsher sentence than the standard guidelines suggested.”
complex
“While the initial proposal was met with skepticism, the subsequent data proved that the investment merited the risk taken by the board of directors.”
Real-World Examples
“However, Jonathan Kipnis, a neuroimmunologist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, thinks that the attention is merited.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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