Merit - Crossword Clue, Answer and Explanation

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

This is the entire 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 Guardian, the LA Times, the Newsday, The Irish Independent, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Star Tribune, The Independent, The Times, The Sunday Times, the USA Today, the Evening Standard, the Penny Press, The Mirror, The New York Times, the Universal and The Wall Street Journal.

'merit' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

This is the entire 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 LA Times, The Irish Independent, The Telegraph, The Star Tribune, The Sun, The Independent, the Sydney Morning Herald, The Mirror and the Evening Standard.

'merit' is the definition.
(I know that merit can be written as deserve)

This is all the 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 LA Times, The Irish Independent, The Telegraph, The Star Tribune, The Sun, The Independent, the Sydney Morning Herald, The Mirror and the Evening Standard.

Merit (4)