merit

nouns

any admirable quality or attribute
"work of great merit"
merit, virtue
antonym
demerit
the quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance)
"there were many children whose deservingness he recognized and rewarded"
deservingness, merit, meritoriousness
is derived from
meritorious

verbs

be worthy or deserving
"You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done"
deserve, merit
is derived from
meritable