- demerit - a mark against a person for misconduct or failure; usually given in school or armed forces; "ten demerits and he loses his privileges"
--1 is a kind of mark, stigma, brand, stain
- demerit, fault - the quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection; "they discussed the merits and demerits of her novel"; "he knew his own faults much better than she did"
--2 is a kind of worth
Antonyms: merit, virtue
- demerit, fault - the quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection; "they discussed the merits and demerits of her novel"; "he knew his own faults much better than she did"