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merit has 4 distinct synonyms spread across 3 of its 3 senses. Each sense below keeps its own list, because a synonym belongs to a meaning and not to a word: swapping one sense's substitute into another sense's sentence is how a thesaurus makes writing worse. Its one recorded opposite is demerit.
Counts are distinct word forms across every sense. A synonym that appears under three senses is counted once here and shown three times below, under each sense it belongs to.
the quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance)
“there were many children whose deservingness he recognized and rewarded”
Synonyms, antonyms and the broader and narrower relations for merit come from Princeton University’s WordNet. Full sources and licences.
be worthy or deserving
“You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done”