desmerecer

to deteriorate

to compare unfavorably

desmerecer(dehs-meh-reh-sehr)

intransitive verb

1. (to become less valuable)

a. to deteriorate

Con el paso del tiempo, la otrora magnífica mansión había desmerecido mucho.

With the passage of time, the once magnificent mansion had deteriorated a lot.

b. to lose value (thing)

Un diamante es el tipo de regalo que no desmerece con el tiempo.

A diamond is the kind of present that never loses value.

c. to lose face (person)

"¡Claro que me gusta el hip-hop!" mintió Penélope, temerosa de desmerecer a ojos de sus nuevos amigos.

"Of course I like hip-hop!" lied Penelope, who was afraid to lose face in front of her new friends.

2. (to be of a lower standard than; often used with "de")

a. to compare unfavorably

(United States)

Este hotel desmerece bastante de los otros que hay en la zona, pero es muy barato.

This hotel compares rather unfavorably with the others in the area, but it's very cheap.

b. to compare unfavourably

(United Kingdom)

El trabajo de Raigal no desmerece del de sus compañeros de reparto.

Raigal's work doesn't compare unfavourably with the rest of the cast's.

c. to be inferior

El nuevo álbum de la cantautora no desmerece en absoluto de sus anteriores discos.

The singer-songwriter's new album is by no means inferior to her previous records.

d. not to be up to snuff

(colloquial)

(United States)

Solo esta historia desmerece en medio de un, por otra parte, fantástico libro de relatos.

This is the only story that's not up to snuff in an otherwise excellent storybook.

e.

no direct translation

El traje que lleva el novio no desmerece del maravilloso vestido de la novia.

The groom's suit does justice to the bride's wonderful dress.

Esta casa no desmerece nada de la anterior que tenías.

This house is every bit as good as the one you had before.