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meretricious

 - 2 dictionary results

mer⋅e⋅tri⋅cious

  [mer-i-trish-uhs]
Use meretricious in a Sentence
–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; < L meretrīcius of, pertaining to prostitutes, der. of meretrīx prostitute = mere-, s. of merēre to earn + -trīx -trix; see -ous

Related forms:
mer⋅e⋅tri⋅cious⋅ly, adverb
mer⋅e⋅tri⋅cious⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. showy, gaudy. 2. spurious, sham, false.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To meretricious
mer·e·tri·cious   (měr'ĭ-trĭsh'əs)   
adj.  

    1. Attracting attention in a vulgar manner: meretricious ornamentation. See Synonyms at gaudy1.

    2. Plausible but false or insincere; specious: a meretricious argument.

  2. Of or relating to prostitutes or prostitution: meretricious relationships.


[Latin meretrīcius, of prostitutes, from meretrīx, meretrīc-, prostitute, from merēre, to earn money; see (s)mer-2 in Indo-European roots.]
mer'e·tri'cious·ly adv., mer'e·tri'cious·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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