apparent merit
[/əˈpærənt ˈmɛrɪt/]
noun phrasepl: apparent merits
mérito aparente
1. Quality or worth that appears to be present or visible on the surface, but may not be genuine or substantiated upon closer examination
The proposal had apparent merit, but further analysis revealed significant flaws in its underlying logic.
A proposta tinha mérito aparente, mas uma análise mais profunda revelou falhas significativas em sua lógica subjacente.
2. In legal contexts, a case or claim that seems valid or worthy of consideration at first glance
The judge dismissed the case despite its apparent merit because critical evidence was inadmissible.
O juiz rejeitou o caso apesar de seu mérito aparente porque a prova crítica era inadmissível.
This term is particularly prominent in legal and academic contexts in both English-speaking countries and Brazil. It reflects the importance of critical evaluation and not accepting things at surface value. In Brazilian legal discourse, 'mérito aparente' is used when dismissing cases that lack substantive foundation despite initial plausibility.
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