Merit - Crossword Clue, Answer and Explanation

'merit' is the definition.
(I've seen this in other clues)

This is all the clue.

(Other definitions for earn that I've seen before include "Acquire by ones' effort" , "Obtain (money) in return for labour or services" , "Gain by effort (4)" , "Merit through work or effort" , "Take home" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times, the Penny Press, the LA Times, The Telegraph, The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Mail, The Irish Independent, the Newsday, the USA Today, the Evening Standard, The Mirror, The Independent, The Guardian, the Universal, The Star Tribune, The Sunday Times and The New York Times.

'merit' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

This is all the clue.

(Other definitions for warrant that I've seen before include "Authorise, justify" , "Document giving authority" , "Merit, justify" , "Permit for arrest, search of premises, etc" , "Guarantee" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times, the LA Times, The Telegraph, The Sun, The Irish Independent, the Evening Standard, The Mirror, The Independent, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Star Tribune.

'merit' is the definition.
(synonyms)

This is the entire clue.

(Other definitions for deserve that I've seen before include "Merit, earn" , "Justify" , "rate" , "Be worth" , "Merit (something)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times, the LA Times, The Telegraph, The Sun, The Irish Independent, the Evening Standard, The Mirror, The Independent, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Star Tribune.

Merit (4)