merited

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
merited
    adj 1: properly deserved; "a merited success" [syn: {merited},
           {deserved}] [ant: {unmerited}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Merit \Mer"it\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Merited}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Meriting}.] [F. m['e]riter, L. meritare, v. intens. fr.
   merere. See {Merit}, n.]
   1. To earn by service or performance; to have a right to
      claim as reward; to deserve; sometimes, to deserve in a
      bad sense; as, to merit punishment. "This kindness merits
      thanks." --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To reward. [R. & Obs.] --Chapman.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
35 Moby Thesaurus words for "merited":
      appropriate, balanced, condign, defensible, deserved, due, earned,
      entitled, equitable, even, evenhanded, fair, fair and square, fit,
      good, just, justifiable, justified, lawful, legal, level, meet,
      meet and right, proper, qualified, requisite, right,
      right and proper, rightful, square, suitable, warrantable,
      warranted, well-earned, worthy

    

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