meritworthy

Meritworthy is an adjective describing something or someone that is worthy of merit, praise, or reward. It signals that the subject has demonstrated genuine merit through useful, commendable, or noteworthy qualities or accomplishments. The term is formed from merit, the quality of being valuable or worthy of recognition, combined with the suffix -worthy meaning “worthy of.” Etymologically, merit derives from Latin meritum, via Old French, while the suffix -worthy has roots in Old English, reinforcing the sense of deservingness.

In contemporary English, meritworthy is relatively uncommon and is often considered formal or literary. It is more frequently replaced by meritorious or by phrases such as deserving, praiseworthy, or commendable. When used, it typically appears in evaluative or honorary contexts, such as awards, grants, or academic recognition.

Examples: The committee highlighted meritworthy contributions from staff who improved patient care. Only meritworthy projects met the grant criteria. Related terms include meritorious, deserving, and laudable.