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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meretricious
Adjective
-
With the conspicuous exception of Algeria, interest in Russia’s strategic S-300 and S-400 systems might have already peaked throughout the wider region.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
In a perfect world for Holmgren, his return to the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center in St. Paul on Thursday afternoon would have been much less conspicuous.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
There’s a certain romanticism that lies at the heart of these remarkable gins, something conjured, perhaps, by that dramatic meeting of land and sea.—
Camille Berry,
Vogue,
15 July 2025
-
Google stock has already achieved remarkable gains, growing 2x from $88 levels in early 2023 to approximately $180 at present.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
The growing number of robots in its warehouses is yet more evidence of this brilliant truth.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
My graduate school advisor, the brilliant Mary Sheriff, always insisted that scholarship had to follow the object, not the other way around.—
Libby Buck
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
No loud colors, no mismatched chairs, even the waiters had to wear off-white.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
5 July 2025
-
Ocean City officials have confirmed that fireworks — not gunfire — were the source of loud noises that caused panic and sent crowds scrambling on the boardwalk Friday night.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
The ribbed texture is noticeable, but not too thick, and the contouring on the back and front could not be more flattering.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
6 July 2025
-
The team issued an advisory noting that residents in nearby communities may see a noticeable increase in smoke July 5 coming from the southwest flank of the Oak Ridge Fire.—
Arlyssa D. Becenti,
AZCentral.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Brewers' dramatic extra-innings win Wednesday sealed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
-
The assault triggered a desperate attempt to evacuate surviving animals, a dramatic story told in the documentary Checkpoint Zoo.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Since then, senior South Korean trade officials have been dispatched to Washington with the hopes of bringing a deal within striking distance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
His work presents a vivid record of what is at stake and a striking contrast to his earlier images of exploitation and ruin.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
But Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee left a hearing Wednesday with outstanding questions that could take lawmakers months to answer — if not longer.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
10 July 2025
-
Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe left frustrated Vinicius Jr had been looking to shine again in the U.S., yet the Brazilian departed with just one goal and one assist to his name from six games, with both his contributions coming in his outstanding performance against Salzburg.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Meretricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meretricious. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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