Deserving praise, reward and esteem; qualifying for and worthy of earning commendation (adjective)
Looking for the answer to the USA Today Rootonym clue “Deserving praise, reward and esteem; qualifying for and worthy of earning commendation (adjective)”? The solution is MERITORIOUS, a 11-letter word built on the root MER (“earn, deserve”). It appeared in the July 25, 2026 (Saturday) USA Today Rootonym. See the full puzzle for that day's other words.
In a sentence
Doug received a commendation for his MERITORIOUS military service that spanned 30 years.
About this clue
The Rootonym clue “Deserving praise, reward and esteem; qualifying for and worthy of earning commendation (adjective)” has the answer MERITORIOUS (11 letters), built on the root MER, which means “earn, deserve”. Browse the full July 25, 2026 Rootonym puzzle for the other three words, or see all Rootonym answers.