meretricious
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.mer·e·tri·cious
adjective \ˌmer-ə-ˈtri-shəs\Definition of MERETRICIOUS
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 significant : pretentious <scholarly names to provide fig-leaves of respectability for meretricious but stylish books — Times Literary Supplement>
— mer·e·tri·cious·ly adverb
— mer·e·tri·cious·ness noun
See Origin of MERETRICIOUS
Latin meretricius, from meretric-, meretrix prostitute, from merēre to earn — more at merit
First Known Use: 1626
Rhymes with MERETRICIOUS
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