meretricious

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective meretricious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of meretricious are flashy, garish, gaudy, and tawdry. While all these words mean "vulgarly or cheaply showy," meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise.

a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

When is it sensible to use flashy instead of meretricious?

The words flashy and meretricious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

When could garish be used to replace meretricious?

While the synonyms garish and meretricious are close in meaning, garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

Where would gaudy be a reasonable alternative to meretricious?

The words gaudy and meretricious can be used in similar contexts, but gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

When would tawdry be a good substitute for meretricious?

Although the words tawdry and meretricious have much in common, tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy.

tawdry saloons

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of meretricious So ranked-choice voting was implemented as a stop-loss remedy — a move to camouflage the practices of an industry devoted to meretricious, often nihilistic entertainments. Armond White, National Review, 27 June 2025 These meretricious narratives play well throughout the Global South. Michael Miklaucic, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025 These meretricious narratives play well throughout the Global South. Michael Miklaucic, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025 But as a character study, with Holocaust themes deepening the stakes of the domestic turmoil, the play holds up extremely well in its critique of a world that has lost its capacity for silence and that is prepared to sacrifice literature for meretricious distraction. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024 Denzel Washington stars as Macrinus, a meretricious arms dealer who own a stable of gladiators, while Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger are brothers and ruling emperors. Zoe Guy, Vulture, 1 July 2024 The bullying tactics being used to sell this boondoggle are underhanded and meretricious. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024 You’re left with a feeling of overwhelming perversity, of a kind of meretricious, insane God out there playing games. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meretricious
Adjective
  • While it has thus far been signed by nearly 250 arts organizations and hundreds of individuals, major museums are conspicuous by their absence, with signatures predominately coming from arts centers, associations and regional councils.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
  • With one conspicuous exception.
    Ronald Brownstein, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Dodgers’ mood after Game 2 was one of jubilation, a remarkable conclusion to an enthralling game.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The Sennheiser Momentum 4 are top-level headphones, boasting a remarkable 60-hour battery life, rich and detailed sound, and adaptive ANC that just works, all while being light enough for all-day use.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But as Abetti freely admits, there is a chasm between a brilliant idea and a lasting enterprise.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • These little Swedish jewels are a reminder that even the most stoic and pragmatic carmakers can inspire with a brilliant high note of design and imagination.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Meet Nashville's new crime-fighting Clydesdale Metro Nashville mounted patrol officer Michael Douglas squeezed a three-foot-long rubber chicken, producing an increasingly louder and closer screeching sound to try and provoke a 1,700-pound Clydesdale named Ross.
    Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025
  • At the same time, Mercury and Mars are activating your sector of expansion, meaning your inner philosopher is loud.
    Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There was a noticeable gap between Ocean dropping his studio debut Channel Orange in 2012 and his 2016 album releases Endless and Blonde — and fans noticed.
    Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The last two words, something Redick said the Lakers needed to be in after the team lost in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves during last year’s playoffs, has been the most noticeable priority shift in the earliest days of training camp.
    Dan Woike, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • During the past decade, Tranter has established himself as one of the music industry’s most reliable hitmakers, thanks to his clever, boisterous lyricism and dramatic, over-the-top choruses and hooks.
    Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
  • While an Oscar nomination for Jay Kelly would mark Sandler's first, the actor, known more for his comedic roles, previously flexed some of his dramatic chops in films like Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Reign Over Me (2007) and Uncut Gems (2019).
    Jen Juneau, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The side’s most striking feature, according to most reports from the time, was therefore their relative lack of brutality.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • This striking turtleneck sweater is a must.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Has an outstanding technical skill set.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Cinematographer Carlos Catalan has worked on Broadchurch, Dope Girls, Murdered by My Boyfriend and Killing Eve, and production designer Dominic Hyman on The Witcher, The Last Kingdom and earned an Emmy for outstanding art direction on HBO’s The Pacific.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Meretricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meretricious. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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