IPA: /ˌmɛrɪˈtɔːriəsnəs/
KK: /mɛrɪˈtɔriəsnəs/
The quality of being deserving of praise or recognition for good actions or achievements.
Her meritoriousness was recognized when she received the award for her community service.
Meritoriousness → It is formed from "meritorious" (from Latin "meritorius", meaning deserving of reward) and the suffix "-ness" (meaning the state or quality of). The word "meritoriousness" refers to the quality of being deserving of praise or reward.
Think of someone who is 'deserving' ('meritorius') of recognition, and the '-ness' indicates the quality of that deserving nature.