meretricious
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Latin meretrīcius, from meretrīx (“harlot, prostitute”), from mereō (“earn, deserve, merit”) (English merit) + -trīx (“(female agent)”) (English -trix).
Pronunciation [edit]
Adjective [edit]
meretricious (comparative more meretricious, superlative most meretricious)
- (obsolete) Of, or relating to prostitutes or prostitution.
- Tastelessly gaudy; superficially attractive but having no substance; falsely alluring.
- 2006, Clive James, North Face of Soho, Picador 2007, p. 164:
- When I lifted my eyes from the page, there was none of the meretricious argument London always offers that the sole real purpose in life is to hustle for a buck.
- 2006, Clive James, North Face of Soho, Picador 2007, p. 164:
Synonyms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
- merit (see also: merit: related terms)
Translations [edit]
of, or relating to prostitutes
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Tastelessly gaudy
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