demerit

Plural: demerits

Noun

• a mark against a person for misconduct or failure; usually given in school or armed forces
  • "ten demerits and he loses his privileges"
• the quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection
  • "they discussed the merits and demerits of her novel"
• A quality of being inadequate; a disadvantage, a fault.
• A mark given for bad conduct to a person attending an educational institution or serving in the army.
• That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert.

Verb

Verb Forms: demerited, demeriting, demerits

• To lower someone or something in rank or status.
• To deserve.
• To depreciate or cry down.

Examples

• An invalid word played in Scrabble can DEMERIT a player’s score and reputation.

Synonyms

fault, discredit

Antonyms

merit

Anagrams of demerit