meretricious

Adjective
Synonyms: brassycheapflashflashygarishgaudygimcrackloudtackytattytawdrytrashy

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (3)

  1. like or relating to a prostitute“meretricious relationships”
  2. tastelessly showy“a flash car”“a flashy ring”“garish colors”“a gaudy costume”“loud sport shirts”“a meretricious yet stylish book”“tawdry ornaments”Synonyms: brassycheapflashflashygarishgaudygimcrackloudtackytattytawdrytrashy
  3. based on pretense; deceptively pleasing“the gilded and perfumed but inwardly rotten nobility”“meretricious praise”“a meretricious argument”Synonyms: gildedspecious
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Meretricious \Mer`e*tri"cious\, a. [L. meretricius, from meretrix, -icis, a prostitute, lit., one who earns money, i. e., by prostitution, fr. merere to earn, gain. See Merit.]

1.Of or pertaining to prostitutes; having to do with harlots; lustful; as, meretricious traffic. [1913 Webster]

2.Resembling the arts of a harlot; alluring by false show; gaudily and deceitfully ornamental; tawdry; as, meretricious dress or ornaments. [1913 Webster]

3.Deceptive or based on deception; seeming plausible, but based on pretense or insincerity; deceptive; misleading; insincere; specious; as, meretricious arguments. [PJC] -- Mer`e*tri"cious*ly, adv. -- Mer`e*tri"cious*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

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