HyperDic: meretricious

English > 3 senses of the word meretricious:
ADJECTIVEpertmeretriciouslike or relating to a prostitute
allmeretricious, brassy, cheap, flash, flashy, garish, gaudy, gimcrack, loud, tacky, tatty, tawdry, trashytastelessly showy
allmeretricious, gilded, speciousbased on pretense
English > meretricious: 3 senses > adjective 1, pert
Meaninglike or relating to a prostitute.
Example"meretricious relationships"
Usage ofarchaism, archaicismThe use of an archaic expression
Nounsprostitutea woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money
English > meretricious: 3 senses > adjective 2
Meaningtastelessly showy.
Example "a meretricious yet stylish book"
Synonymsbrassy, cheap, flash, flashy, garish, gaudy, gimcrack, loud, tacky, tatty, tawdry, trashy
Broadertastelesslacking aesthetic or social taste
Catalancridaner, vulgar
Spanishllamativo, vulgar
Nounsmeretriciousnesstasteless showiness
Adverbsmeretriciouslyin a meretricious manner
English > meretricious: 3 senses > adjective 3
MeaningBased on pretense; deceptively pleasing.
Examples
  • "meretricious praise"
  • "a meretricious argument"
Synonymsgilded, specious
Broaderinsincerelacking sincerity
Nounsmeretriciousnessan appearance of truth that is false / false or deceptive
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