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View synonyms for meretricious

meretricious

[ mer-i-trish-uhs ]

adjective

  1. alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.

    Synonyms: gaudy, showy

  2. based on pretense, deception, or insincerity.

    Synonyms: false, sham, spurious

  3. Archaic. relating to or characteristic of a prostitute.


meretricious

/ ˌmɛrɪˈtrɪʃəs /

adjective

  1. superficially or garishly attractive
  2. insincere

    meretricious praise

  3. archaic.
    of, like, or relating to a prostitute
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌmereˈtriciously, adverb
  • ˌmereˈtriciousness, noun
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Other Words From

  • mer·e·tri·cious·ly adverb
  • mer·e·tri·cious·ness noun
  • un·mer·e·tri·cious adjective
  • un·mer·e·tri·cious·ly adverb
  • un·mer·e·tri·cious·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of meretricious1

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin meretrīcius “of, pertaining to prostitutes,” derivative of meretrīx “prostitute,” equivalent to mere-, stem of merēre “to earn” + -trīx -trix; -ous
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Word History and Origins

Origin of meretricious1

C17: from Latin merētrīcius, from merētrix prostitute, from merēre to earn money
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Example Sentences

Or maybe, seen with a cold eye, meretricious.

These shows raised the bar for musical drama and proved to Broadway that meretricious soullessness isn’t the only way.

The economic crash of 1929 descended on America like an ice age, ending a meretricious prosperity.

From Salon

His work wasn’t a branch of publicity even as it sought to elevate the truly excellent from the meretricious.

Fox could argue, plausibly if uncomfortably, that some of its performers are entertainers lacking aptitudes, motives or incentives for making journalistic judgments about meretricious statements uttered on their programs.

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