as in conspicuous
formal + disapproving
attractive in a cheap or false way
meretricious beauty lacking in any real substance
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Recent Examples of meretricious
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
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
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
The bullying tactics being used to sell this boondoggle are underhanded and meretricious.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024
These shows raised the bar for musical drama and proved to Broadway that meretricious soullessness isn’t the only way.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2023
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
Today’s sleek, simple anti-It Bags, on the other hand, telegraph a less meretricious sort of chic.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, WSJ, 7 Jan. 2023
Michael Miklaucic, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025
These meretricious narratives play well throughout the Global South.
—Michael Miklaucic, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
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
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
The bullying tactics being used to sell this boondoggle are underhanded and meretricious.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024
These shows raised the bar for musical drama and proved to Broadway that meretricious soullessness isn’t the only way.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2023
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
Today’s sleek, simple anti-It Bags, on the other hand, telegraph a less meretricious sort of chic.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, WSJ, 7 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meretricious
Adjective
-
The most conspicuous change that will occur if the budget is approved is that both the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) will end with the Artemis III mission scheduled to fly in, perhaps, 2027.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 May 2025
-
Anatomical features lost to time Today, ants are one of the most conspicuous and abundant groups of insects on the planet, found on all continents except Antarctica, the study noted.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
For any teenage prodigy, that represents a remarkable start to a career.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
-
By measuring the ratios of uranium and lead isotopes, scientists can determine the crystal’s age with remarkable precision.—
Ella Jeffries,
Smithsonian Magazine,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Golfers don’t require night vision goggles or glow in the dark golf balls because the entire course is illuminated by more than 78 brilliant LED lights.—
Candace Oehler,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
-
Evason started Fleury in Game 2 against Dallas in the 2023 playoffs after Gustavsson’s brilliant performance in a double OT win in Game 1.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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But due to noise from the venue next door, which was playing loud music amid a competing bar, Bruni bailed even after the musicians were assembled on stage.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
-
Literal flames surrounded the glow, both repelling and drawing you in more, followed by two loud, disorienting thumps.—
Christopher Rosa,
Glamour,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
This gap is especially noticeable in close relationships, such as those with family and close friends, where shared understanding is critical to maintaining connection.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
-
But her impact was immediately noticeable, said La Jolla High Principal Chuck Podhorsky.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
This change in ownership allowed industry to license these technologies from the universities and to commercialize the research, creating dramatic improvements in all areas of the American society and an economic bonanza for the U.S. economy.—
Barbara Bry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 May 2025
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But the real draw is the close-ups on slices of pork bubbling and sizzling on hot grills, plus the dramatic pans over bowls of banchan.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
Full sun Soil Type: Well-draining sandy loam Soil pH: Slightly to moderately acidic USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 10-12 While dichondra silver falls is a desert plant in its native environment, it's grown as a striking annual across the South.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
11 May 2025
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Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest are all within striking distance, and max points here would go a long way in helping Aston Villa's chances.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
The Wall Street investment bank estimated that Berkshire’s T-bill position has more than doubled over the past year, adding that the $314 billion stake as of the end of March accounted for 5% of all outstanding short-term government bills.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
11 May 2025
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Like every successful side in these early years of the World Cup, Uruguay 1950 had an outstanding centre-half in Varela, who was physically dominant and also a key attacking weapon.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Meretricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meretricious. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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