merited

Merited is the past participle of the verb merit and functions as an adjective meaning deserved or earned. It is used to indicate that an outcome or reward is justified by the actions or qualities of the subject, often with a formal or emphatic tone. Examples include a merited promotion, merited criticism, or a merited award. In moral or legal discussions, merited punishment refers to penalties judged as appropriate for an offense.

Etymology and related terms: The word derives from Old French merite, from Latin meritum, from mereri “to earn.” The adjective merited is related to meritorious, which more broadly means worthy of praise. Unmerited describes outcomes that are not deserved or not earned. Synonyms for merited include deserved, warranted, and justified.

Usage notes: Merited tends to carry a sense of justification and fairness. It is more formal or literary than everyday “deserved.” In some contexts, such as journalism or legal discourse, merited emphasizes that the reward or sanction is appropriate to the conduct or merits of the subject, rather than merely inevitable.

See also: merit, meritorious, deserved, unmerited.