meretricious
Use Meretricious in a sentence
ɪˈtrɪʃ adjective
1.
alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.
2.
based on pretense, deception, or insincerity.
3.
pertaining to or characteristic of a prostitute.
Origin:
1620–30; < Latin meretrīcius of, pertaining to prostitutes, derivative of meretrīx prostitute = mere-, stem of merēre to earn + -trīx -trix; see -ous
1620–30; < Latin meretrīcius of, pertaining to prostitutes, derivative of meretrīx prostitute = mere-, stem of merēre to earn + -trīx -trix; see -ous
Related forms
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
Synonyms
1. showy, gaudy. 2. spurious, sham, false.
1. showy, gaudy. 2. spurious, sham, false.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To meretricious
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Meretricious
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is sinuous. Does it mean:
| having many curves, bends, or turns; winding and indirect; devious. |
| To polish a surface by friction. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
meretricious (ˌmɛrɪˈtrɪʃəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | superficially or garishly attractive |
| 2. | insincere: meretricious praise |
| 3. | archaic of, like, or relating to a prostitute |
| [C17: from Latin merētrīcius, from merētrix prostitute, from merēre to earn money] | |
| mere'triciously | |
| —adv | |
| mere'triciousness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
meretricious
1626, from L. meretricius "of or pertaining to prostitutes," from meretrix (gen. meretricis) "prostitute," lit. "woman who earns money," from merere, mereri "to earn, gain" (see merit).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Nearby Words
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