| Meretricious | 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 ] |
| meretriciousness | n. 1. an appearance of truth that is false or deceptive; seeming plausibility.
Syn. -- speciousness. [ WordNet 1.5 ] 2. tasteless showiness.
Syn. -- flashiness, garishness, gaudiness, loudness, tawdriness, glitz. [ WordNet 1.5 ] |
