1. 良好品质;价值
    If something has merit, it has good or worthwhile qualities.

merit的反义词

    e.g. The argument seemed to have considerable merit...
           这个论点似乎颇有价值。
    e.g. Box-office success mattered more than artistic merit...
           票房上的成功比艺术价值更重要。

2. 优点;长处;优势
    The merits of something are its advantages or other good points.

    e.g. They have been persuaded of the merits of peace.
           他们被劝服，认识到了和平的好处。
    e.g. ...the technical merits of a film...
           一部电影技术上的长处

3. 值得;应受到
    If someone or something merits a particular action or treatment, they deserve it.

merit

    e.g. He said he had done nothing wrong to merit a criminal investigation...
           他说自己没有干坏事，不应该受到刑事调查。
    e.g. Such ideas merit careful consideration.
           这样的想法值得斟酌。

4. 根据事物本身的情况(来评价)
    If you judge something or someone on merit or on their merits, your judgment is based on what you notice when you consider them, rather than on things that you know about them from other sources.

    e.g. Everybody is selected on merit...
           每个人都是凭个人才能入选的。
    e.g. Each case is judged on its merits.
           每个案件都是按照案件本身的特点判定的。