Unlocking the Mystery: Can You Solve the Merit Crossword Clue?

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the clue ‘Merit‘ was the word ‘value‘. However, it was too obvious and short to fill the required number of letters in the crossword puzzle. So, I started thinking broadly about words that could relate to the concept of worth or deserving. Suddenly, I caught onto the subtle nuance of the word ‘Merit‘, which is that it doesn’t just mean ‘value’ or worthiness, but also implies a comparison or a rating. I began to consider words such as ‘grade‘, ‘rank‘, and ‘score‘, which all have connotations of assessing or evaluating someone or something based on a certain criteria. And then it dawned on me: ‘Rate‘! It perfectly captures the essence of the clue as a word that indicates both worthiness and comparison. The answer ‘Rate‘ not only fits the number of letters in the puzzle but also neatly resolves the question of the crossword clue by identifying the appropriate word that captures the true meaning of ‘Merit‘.