meretricious

American  

[mer-i-trish-uhs] / ˌmɛr ɪˈtrɪʃ əs /

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.

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meretricious British  

/ ˌmɛrɪˈtrɪʃəs /

adjective

1. superficially or garishly attractive

2. insincere

   meretricious praise

3. archaic of, like, or relating to a prostitute

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Other Word Forms

• meretriciously adverb
• meretriciousness noun
• unmeretricious adjective
• unmeretriciously adverb
• unmeretriciousness noun

Etymology

Origin of meretricious

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

Example Sentences

“Shakespeare in Love” kidnapped its subject to force him into a flimsy and meretricious romcom; “Hamnet” reduces the concept of tragedy to actors being extremely sad.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

Or maybe, seen with a cold eye, meretricious.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2024

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

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2023

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

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2023

Sordidness rejected The Atlantic traditions, for the most part, have rejected the harrowing and the sordid and the meretricious.

From Atlantic Narratives Modern Short Stories by Ashe, Elizabeth