Find Antonyms
demerit Antonyms
Opposite of demerit
Because the opposite of demerit shifts with each meaning, the 11 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
• noun (Context 1)
A mark or point awarded against a person for an offense, fault, or poor behavior, typically in a school, military, or traffic-licensing system.
Usage Example
"The cadet received three demerits for failing to keep his uniform in proper order."
Strongest
merit
Strong
credit
commendation
reward
• noun (Context 2)
A feature or quality that makes someone or something less acceptable, desirable, or effective; a fault or disadvantage.
Usage Example
"The committee carefully weighed the merits and demerits of the proposed transit expansion."
Strongest
merit
advantage
Strong
virtue
strength
benefit
asset
• verb (Context 3)
To assign a penalty mark against or lower the standing of someone or something.
Usage Example
"The judges decided to reward the routine for exceeding the allotted time limit."
Strong
reward
commend
praise
Similar words to demerit
Words similar to demerit shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:
fault
black mark
drawback
disadvantage
shortcoming
flaw
defect
penalize
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Demerit. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/demerit