meretricious

adjective

mer·e·tri·cious ˌmer-ə-ˈtri-shəs How to pronounce meretricious (audio)

: of or relating to a prostitute : having the nature of prostitution

meretricious relationships

: tawdrily and falsely attractive

the paradise they found was a piece of meretricious trash

Carolyn See

: superficially (see superficial sense 2) significant : pretentious

scholarly names to provide fig-leaves of respectability for meretricious but stylish books

The Times Literary Supplement (London)

meretriciously adverb

meretriciousness noun

Did you know?

Meretricious can be traced back to the Latin verb merēre, meaning "to earn, gain, or deserve." It shares this origin with a small group of other English words, including "merit," meritorious," and "emeritus." But, while these words can suggest some degree of honor or esteem, "meretricious" is used to suggest pretense, insincerity, and cheap or tawdry ornamentation. The Latin merēre is at the root of the Latin noun meretrix, meaning "prostitute," and its related adjective "meretricius" ("of or relating to a prostitute"). The Latin meretricius entered into English as "meretricious" in the 17th century. Shortly after being adopted, "meretricious" also began to be used to indicate things which are superficially attractive but which have little or no value or integrity.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The Batman certainly can’t be dismissed as yet another meretricious superhero caper.

Kyle Smith, National Review, 28 Feb. 2022 That stagy feel comes from the chest voice and vibrato, slightly recalling Bryan Ferry’s meretricious wobble here.

Sasha Frere-jones, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2022 Vonnegut combined silly sci-fi comedy with even sillier oversimplifications to such meretricious effect that his true peer was not another novelist but Dr. Seuss.

Kyle Smith, National Review, 23 Nov. 2021 These artistic reckonings prove that meretricious contemporary filmmakers can barely justify their own practices.

Armond White, National Review, 9 July 2021 Indeed, that’s what makes the otherwise meretricious story of Gatsby and Daisy so compelling.

Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2020 Still, some folks discover the secret to thwarting the meretricious allure of the evanescently contemporary.

Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 29 Jan. 2020 The real problem is a green unwillingness to forgo shiny, meretricious plaudits for fake gestures in place of patiently laying the groundwork for something that might actually have some value.

Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 6 Nov. 2018 And that’s equally the case with the most effective sequence, which also happens to be the most meretricious.

Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 5 Apr. 2018 See More

单词	meretriciousness
释义	meretricious adjective mer·e·tri·cious ˌmer-ə-ˈtri-shəs 1 : of or relating to a prostitute : having the nature of prostitution meretricious relationships 2 a : tawdrily and falsely attractive the paradise they found was a piece of meretricious trash Carolyn See b : superficially (see superficial sense 2) significant : pretentious scholarly names to provide fig-leaves of respectability for meretricious but stylish books The Times Literary Supplement (London) meretriciously adverb meretriciousness noun Did you know? Meretricious can be traced back to the Latin verb merēre, meaning "to earn, gain, or deserve." It shares this origin with a small group of other English words, including "merit," meritorious," and "emeritus." But, while these words can suggest some degree of honor or esteem, "meretricious" is used to suggest pretense, insincerity, and cheap or tawdry ornamentation. The Latin merēre is at the root of the Latin noun meretrix, meaning "prostitute," and its related adjective "meretricius" ("of or relating to a prostitute"). The Latin meretricius entered into English as "meretricious" in the 17th century. Shortly after being adopted, "meretricious" also began to be used to indicate things which are superficially attractive but which have little or no value or integrity. Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web The Batman certainly can’t be dismissed as yet another meretricious superhero caper. Kyle Smith, National Review, 28 Feb. 2022 That stagy feel comes from the chest voice and vibrato, slightly recalling Bryan Ferry’s meretricious wobble here. Sasha Frere-jones, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2022 Vonnegut combined silly sci-fi comedy with even sillier oversimplifications to such meretricious effect that his true peer was not another novelist but Dr. Seuss. Kyle Smith, National Review, 23 Nov. 2021 These artistic reckonings prove that meretricious contemporary filmmakers can barely justify their own practices. Armond White, National Review, 9 July 2021 Indeed, that’s what makes the otherwise meretricious story of Gatsby and Daisy so compelling. Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2020 Still, some folks discover the secret to thwarting the meretricious allure of the evanescently contemporary. Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 29 Jan. 2020 The real problem is a green unwillingness to forgo shiny, meretricious plaudits for fake gestures in place of patiently laying the groundwork for something that might actually have some value. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 6 Nov. 2018 And that’s equally the case with the most effective sequence, which also happens to be the most meretricious. Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 5 Apr. 2018 See More Word History Etymology Latin meretricius, from meretric-, meretrix prostitute, from merēre to earn — more at merit entry 1 First Known Use 1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1 meretriciousness noun as in opulence Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance opulence richness vulgarity luxuriousness magnificence ornamentation decoration tawdriness extravagance sumptuousness embellishment luridness luxuriance trimming razzmatazz dressing adornment extravaganza dazzle fanfare spectacle parade pageantry garnishment ostentatiousness fanciness razzle-dazzle mummery flamboyance pageant garishness pomp gaudiness swank pretentiousness ostentation glitz pretence éclat show pretense flashiness foofaraw flash showiness Antonyms & Near Antonyms severity simplicity austerity restraint elegance plainness moderation modesty understatement conservativeness gracefulness minimalism tastefulness See More
随便看	assort assortative insulin-like growth factor insulinize insulins Insull insulse insulsity insult insult someone's intelligence insultability insultable insultation insulted insulter insulters insulting insultingly insultproof insults insuperabilities insuperability insuperable insuperablenesses insuperably

meretricious

adjective

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

noun