You’ve probably been there. You are staring at a performance review or maybe a college application, and you want to sound smart. You want a word that says "this is good," but with more weight. You reach for "meritorious." But here is the thing: most people use meritorious in a sentence like they’re trying to win a middle-school spelling bee rather than actually communicating a point. It feels stiff. It feels like you’re wearing a tuxedo to a backyard BBQ.
Language isn't just about being right. It’s about the vibe.
What Meritorious Actually Means (Beyond the Dictionary)
If you look up the word, the Oxford English Dictionary or Merriam-Webster will tell you it means "deserving reward or praise." Simple, right? Not really. There is a specific flavor of "goodness" attached to this word. It isn't just about winning; it’s about how you won. If a trust-fund kid buys a company and makes a profit, we don't usually call that meritorious. But if a teacher spends twenty years staying late to help kids in a Title I school, that is the definition of a meritorious career.
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It implies effort. It implies a sense of duty. Honestly, it’s a bit of a "heavy" word.
You wouldn't say, "That sandwich was meritorious." That’s weird. Unless the sandwich saved your life or was made through a Herculean effort of artisanal craftsmanship, keep it to "delicious." We reserve meritorious in a sentence for actions that have a moral or professional weight to them.
Real-World Examples That Don't Sound Like a Robot
Let’s look at how this actually functions when a human speaks.
- "The committee decided that her twenty years of volunteer work constituted a meritorious contribution to the city's housing project."
- "While the team didn't win the championship, their meritorious effort in the face of multiple injuries earned them a standing ovation."
- "He received a medal for meritorious service after his actions during the flood."
Notice the pattern? It’s usually tied to "service," "effort," "conduct," or "contributions." It’s a word for the LinkedIn crowd and the military, but it’s also for anyone trying to describe a person who did the right thing when it was hard.
Why People Mess Up the Context
The biggest mistake? Using it as a synonym for "successful." They aren't the same.
Success is about the outcome. Merit is about the character.
You can have a successful heist, but you can’t have a meritorious one. Well, unless you’re Robin Hood, maybe? But even then, you’re pushing it. The word carries an inherent "positive" moral charge. It’s about being worthy. If you’re writing a legal brief or a formal recommendation letter, this distinction matters. A judge might look at a "meritorious defense," which basically means the defense has actual legal legs to stand on—it’s not just a frivolous waste of the court's time.
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Meritorious in a Sentence: The Legal and Military Angle
This is where the word lives most of the time. In the U.S. Army, for example, the Meritorious Service Medal is a big deal. It’s for people who went above and beyond their basic job description. It’s not just for "doing your job." It’s for doing it so well that people noticed.
In law, a "meritorious claim" is a big hurdle. If a lawyer files a lawsuit that is totally baseless, they can get sanctioned. To avoid that, the claim must be meritorious. It has to have a "merit" or a basis in fact and law.
Wait. Let's pivot for a second.
Have you ever noticed how some words just feel "old"? Meritorious comes from the Latin meritorius, which basically meant "bringing in money" or "profitable." It’s funny how language shifts. Now, it has almost nothing to do with money and everything to do with honor.
The Nuance of "Meritocracy"
We talk a lot about meritocracies lately. The idea is that the most meritorious people should rise to the top. But critics like Michael Sandel, a Harvard professor, argue that the "tyranny of merit" can actually make us less empathetic. If we believe everything we have is because of our own meritorious actions, we forget about luck. We forget about the people who helped us.
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When you use the word, keep that in mind. It’s a word about individual worth, but it’s often judged by a community.
Tips for Natural Placement
If you’re trying to work meritorious in a sentence without sounding like you’re trying too hard, try these "bridge" phrases:
- For service: "She was honored for her meritorious service to the department."
- For an idea: "The proposal was meritorious, even if the budget couldn't support it yet."
- For behavior: "The student’s meritorious conduct during the crisis was a surprise to no one."
Actually, "surprise to no one" is a great way to end that. It shows that merit is often a pattern, not a one-off fluke.
How to Check if You’re Overusing It
If you’ve used the word twice in one paragraph, stop. It’s a "spice" word. Too much of it ruins the dish. If you find yourself wanting to say it again, try "laudable," "praiseworthy," or just "exemplary."
Is it "exemplary"? Sorta. But exemplary means it’s an example for others. Meritorious just means it deserves a reward. Subtle difference, but it's there.
Actionable Steps for Better Writing
If you want to master this word—and others like it—stop reading dictionaries and start reading high-quality long-form journalism. Read The New Yorker or The Atlantic. You’ll see how they weave "heavy" vocabulary into conversational prose without it feeling like a speed bump.
- Audit your drafts: Look for "good" or "great." Can they be replaced with something more specific like meritorious? Only if there’s an element of "deservingness" involved.
- Check the tone: If the rest of your email is "Hey guys, what’s up," don't drop a "meritorious" in the middle. It’ll look like a copy-paste error.
- Think about the "Why": Use the word when you want to highlight the work behind the achievement, not just the achievement itself.
Ultimately, words are tools. You wouldn't use a sledgehammer to hang a picture frame. Use meritorious when you need to weigh someone’s actions against a standard of excellence and find them worthy of something more than just a "good job."