[adj] properly earned or deserved; "a merited success"
condign, deserved, due, earned
unmerited
appropriate, balanced, condign, defensible, deserved, due, earned, entitled, equitable, even, evenhanded, fair, fair and square, fit, good, just, justifiable, justified, lawful, legal, level, meet, meet and right, proper, qualified, requisite, right, righ