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
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
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
-
Elon Musk was conspicuous by his absence.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Instead of directly addressing the naysayers, Rutledge acknowledged taking a less conspicuous approach.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The zoo said parthenogenesis has only been documented in a handful of reptile species worldwide, making this birth even more remarkable.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
And yet in restructuring Patagonia to ensure that its profits are used to protect wild lands, Chouinard accomplished something remarkable, turning a for-profit corporation with $1 billion in annual sales into one of the biggest environmental philanthropies in the country.—
David Gelles,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Herbert’s brilliant response How would Herbert respond to the playoff loss to the Houston Texans last season, in one of the worst games of his career?—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The leaves turn a vivid, brilliant scarlet-red in the fall.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This discourse only got louder during minicamp when he was called out for his physical appearance and route running.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
-
As Anisimova kept making things close again, and the crowd kept getting loud, Sabalenka reminded herself to focus on herself.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
After a noticeable drop in school attendance due to SEPTA cuts in the first week of the new school year, the city directed a portion of its $135 million transit subsidy to restore bus and trolley service on routes that are heavily used by students.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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The ears of a young ram are more noticeable than those of an old ram, whose ears are largely concealed by the massive horns.—
Tim Kelly,
Outdoor Life,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That means the blood-red moon will climb above the eastern horizon already darkened, creating a dramatic but challenging sight.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In the end, the most dramatic deadline-day transfer was the one that reflected a summer-long trend.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In the most striking example, DOGE instructed Dudek to cancel two contracts that the SSA had with the state of Maine, according to Dudek and other SSA officials.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
With Saturn nearing its brightest, biggest and best for 2025, expect a striking pairing in the east that will be worth getting outside for.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With its outstanding tennis and pickleball program, renowned surf school, and kids' clubs and beach clubs, there’s no shortage of activities to keep everyone entertained.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Without it, even the most outstanding work can quietly suffocate.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Meretricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meretricious. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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