meretricious
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meretricious
- /ˌmɛɹɪˈtɹɪʃəs/
- /ˌmɛɹəˈtɹɪʃəs/
Rhymes with -ɪʃəs
Where it comes from
From Latin meretrīcius, from meretrīx (“harlot, prostitute”), from mereō (“earn, deserve, merit”) (English merit) + -trīx (“(female agent)”) (English -trix).
adjective more meretricious · most meretricious
-
Tastelessly gaudy; superficially attractive but having in reality no value or substance; falsely alluring.
I discovered even, by his conversation, when intoxicated that his favourites were wantons of the lowest class, who could by their vulgar, indecent mirth, which he called nature, rouse his sluggish spirits. Meretricious ornaments and manners were necessary to attract his attention.
Similar: specious, brassy, cheap, flashy, garish, gaudy, gimcrack, tacky, tatty, tawdry, trashy
- Involving unlawful sexual connection or lack of consent by at least one party (said of a romantic relationship).
- Of, or relating to prostitutes or prostitution.
Translations
Every language
adj tastelessly gaudy
| 한국어 | 저속한 jeosokhan |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | けばけばしい kebakebashii |
| 中文 | 艳俗的 |
| Français | spécieux, de mauvais goût |
| Deutsch | protzig, großspurig, ordinär, großkotzig |
adj of, or relating to prostitutes
| Español | meretricio |
|---|---|
| Français | racoleur, putassier |
| Deutsch | dirnenhaft |
Talk about this word "meretricious." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/meretricious. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. meretricious. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/meretricious "meretricious." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/meretricious.Cite this
@misc{meretricious_2026,
title = {meretricious},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/meretricious},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
