| Rating | Solver | Clue |
|---|---|---|
| RANKS | Merits | |
| AMENITIES | Merits | |
| PROSANDCONS | Merits | |
| DESERVES | Merits | |
| EARNS | Merits | |
| DEMERIT | That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert. | |
| CRITICISE | To discuss the merits or demerits of a thing or person; esp., to find fault. | |
| MERIT | Reward deserved; any mark or token of excellence or approbation; as, his teacher gave him ten merits. | |
| REVIEWER | One who reviews or reexamines; an inspector; one who examines publications critically, and publishes his opinion upon their merits; a professional critic of books. | |
| RETRIBUTION | That which is given in repayment or compensation; return suitable to the merits or deserts of, as an action; commonly, condign punishment for evil or wrong. | |
| CHICANE | The use of artful subterfuge, designed to draw away attention from the merits of a case or question; -- specifically applied to legal proceedings; trickery; chicanery; caviling; sophistry. | |
| CRITIC | One skilled in judging of the merits of literary or artistic works; a connoisseur; an adept; hence, one who examines literary or artistic works... | |
| JUDGE | One who has skill, knowledge, or experience, sufficient to decide on the merits of a question, or on the quality or value of anything; one who ... | |
| INDULGENCE | ... debt of justice to God by the application of the merits of Christ and his saints to the contrite soul through the church. It is therefore belie... | |