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

Derived Forms

• ˌmereˈtriciously, adverb
• ˌmereˈtriciousness, noun

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of meretricious¹

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

Example Sentences

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

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.

From Washington Post