meritorious

/ˌmerɪˈtɔːriəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmerɪˈtɔːriəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmer-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əs/ (ame, mw)

meritorious — adjective

  • meritoriouspositive
  • more meritoriouscomparative
  • most meritorioussuperlative

1. having earned respect, approval, or reward because of positive qualities, effort

1.形容詞C1
釋義

having earned respect, approval, or reward because of positive qualities, effort, or achievements that are seen as admirable.

例句

Nadia's meritorious service as a nurse won her a community leadership award.

collocation: meritorious service

The committee praised Wei's meritorious research on clean water systems.

passive with committee/institution as subject

同義詞
  • praiseworthy

    more common and slightly less formal; focuses on moral approval

  • commendable

    similar formality; often used for specific efforts or attempts

  • laudable

    equally formal; stresses that an action is worthy of high praise

  • creditable

    emphasises that the achievement meets a good standard

反義詞
  • blameworthy

    direct opposite — worthy of blame rather than praise

  • undeserving

    not worthy of reward or recognition

用法筆記

Common in formal contexts such as military commendations, academic awards, and professional recognition. Unlike 'deserving', which is neutral, 'meritorious' carries a strong positive judgment by an authority or institution.

常見錯誤

❌The meal was meritorious and I really enjoyed it.
✅The meal was excellent and I really enjoyed it.
💡'meritorious' is too formal for everyday praise; use 'excellent' or 'great' for casual settings.
❌He is meritorious of a reward.
✅His actions are meritorious and deserve a reward.
💡'meritorious' describes actions or qualities, not a person directly expecting something.