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Unmerited: meaning, definitions and examples

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unmerited

 

[ ʌnˈmɛrɪtɪd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

describing favor or treatment that has not been earned or deserved

Unmerited means not justified or deserved. It is often used to describe something that is given without any reason or basis, usually in a positive context.

Synonyms

undeserved, unearned, unwarranted.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unmerited

Used when something is given or received without being earned or deserved; often used in formal or academic contexts.

  • His rise to power was largely unmerited
undeserved

Typically used to describe something negative or unfair that happened to someone who didn't deserve it; can also describe positive things.

  • She received an undeserved punishment
  • He got an undeserved compliment
unearned

Refers to something received without effort or labor, commonly used in financial or tangible contexts.

  • The bonus felt unearned as he had barely worked this quarter
  • She gained unearned income from investments
unwarranted

Used for actions or reactions that lack justification or valid reason, often has a negative connotation.

  • The criticism was completely unwarranted
  • He faced unwarranted hostility from the group

Examples of usage

  • He received unmerited praise for his mediocre performance.
  • She felt guilty about the unmerited attention she was receiving.

Translations

Translations of the word "unmerited" in other languages:

🇵🇹 imerecido

🇮🇳 अवांछित

🇩🇪 unverdient

🇮🇩 tidak pantas

🇺🇦 незаслужений

🇵🇱 niezasłużony

🇯🇵 不当な

🇫🇷 immérité

🇪🇸 inmerecido

🇹🇷 hak edilmemiş

🇰🇷 부당한

🇸🇦 غير مستحق

🇨🇿 nezasloužený

🇸🇰 nezaslúžený

🇨🇳 不应得的

🇸🇮 nezaslužen

🇮🇸 óverðskuldaður

🇰🇿 лайықсыз

🇬🇪 დაუმსახურებელი

🇦🇿 layiqsiz

🇲🇽 inmerecido

Etymology

The word 'unmerited' originated from the combination of the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'merited,' which comes from the Latin 'meritus' meaning 'deserved.' The concept of something being unmerited can be traced back to ancient philosophical debates about justice and fairness.

See also: merited, meritorious, meritoriousness, unmeritedly.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,436, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.