meritorious

/ˌˈmɛrəˌˈtɔriəs/

Anything that's deserving of praise or a reward could be described as meritorious.

Meritorious things deserve a lot of merit, usually because they were very brave or noble in some way. If you saved a person from drowning, that's meritorious. Firefighters and doctors have meritorious careers because they're dedicated to helping people. Giving money to charity is meritorious. When something is meritorious, it deserves praise and thanks.

Definitions of meritorious

1. adjective

   deserving reward or praise
   “a lifetime of meritorious service”

   “meritorious conduct”

   synonyms: meritable

   worthy

   having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable