Definition

Not deserved or earned; something that is given without justification or reason.

Example

He received unmerited praise for his work, even though he didn't contribute much.

Conversation

Did you hear about the criticism he received for that project?

Yeah, it seemed really unmerited to me.

I agree; he put in so much effort, and it was unfair.

Exactly! Sometimes people just don’t appreciate hard work.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unmerited → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "merit" (from Latin "meritum", meaning a reward or worth). The word "unmerited" means not deserving or lacking merit.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not deserving' ('un-') something that has 'worth' ('meritum') — that's why unmerited means something that is not deserved.

Visually Confused Words