Distinction
Distinction noun - A quality that gives something special worth.
Usage example: has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city
Merit is a synonym for distinction in honour topic. In some cases you can use "Merit" instead a noun "Distinction", when it comes to topics like quality, good, excellence, prominence. popular alternative
Merit
Merit noun - A quality that gives something special worth.
Usage example: this mystery novel at least has the merit of an original plot
Distinction is a synonym for merit in good topic. You can use "Distinction" instead a noun "Merit", if it concerns topics such as excellence. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
How words are described
Both words in one sentence
-
As in the case of Graham Greene's "real novels" and what he called "Entertainments", it is a distinction without visible merit, beyond its use in marketing terms.
Source: Creator / Iain Banks -
This distinction wouldn't merit a mention were magic not an in-universe phenomenon declared to be separate from Techniques; the magic abilities certain party members learn are Skills, not Techniques.
Source: Video Game / Phantasy Star IV
Cite this Source
Merit and Distinction. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/distinction/merit
Distinction & Merit. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/distinction/merit>.
Merit or Distinction. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/distinction/merit.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "distinction" and "merit" have occurred on timeline