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

Or maybe, seen with a cold eye, meretricious.

From New York Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Los Angeles Times