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

Strange words of praise; meretricious even, in how they can mask the isolation they impose.

From New York Times

Where once he satirized the meretricious appeal of Hollywood, movie stars and reality TV, here he’s hunkered down with homeless workers, railway tramps and union organizers.

From Washington Post

“You rediscover some small things, spending time with the children and the family,” keeping up with her father by Skype, noting that for once, social media is proving to be more beneficial than meretricious.

From New York Times

Still, some folks discover the secret to thwarting the meretricious allure of the evanescently contemporary.

From Washington Post