Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [mer-i-trish-uh s]
- /ˌmɛr ɪˈtrɪʃ əs/
- /ˌmer.ɪˈtrɪʃ.əs/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [mer-i-trish-uh s]
- /ˌmɛr ɪˈtrɪʃ əs/
Definitions of meretricious word
- adjective meretricious alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry. 1
- adjective meretricious based on pretense, deception, or insincerity. 1
- adjective meretricious pertaining to or characteristic of a prostitute. 1
- noun meretricious Apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity. 1
- adjective meretricious showy and false 1
- adjective meretricious If you describe something as meretricious, you disapprove of it because although it looks attractive it is actually of little value. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of meretricious
First appearance:
before 1620 One of the 42% oldest English words
1620-30; < Latin meretrīcius of, pertaining to prostitutes, derivative of meretrīx prostitute, equivalent to mere-, stem of merēre to earn + -trīx -trix; see -ous
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Meretricious
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
meretricious popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 55% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
meretricious usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for meretricious
adj meretricious
- blatant — You use blatant to describe something bad that is done in an open or very obvious way.
- bogus — If you describe something as bogus, you mean that it is not genuine.
- brazen — If you describe a person or their behaviour as brazen, you mean that they are very bold and do not care what other people think about them or their behaviour.
- chintzy — Something that is chintzy is decorated or covered with chintz.
- counterfeit — Counterfeit money, goods, or documents are not genuine, but have been made to look exactly like genuine ones in order to deceive people.
adjective meretricious
- plausible — having an appearance of truth or reason; seemingly worthy of approval or acceptance; credible; believable: a plausible excuse; a plausible plot.
- specious — apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible: specious arguments.
- glib — readily fluent, often thoughtlessly, superficially, or insincerely so: a glib talker; glib answers.
- persuasive — able, fitted, or intended to persuade: a very persuasive argument.
- deceiving — Present participle of deceive.
Antonyms for meretricious
adj meretricious
- real — true; not merely ostensible, nominal, or apparent: the real reason for an act.
- genuine — possessing the claimed or attributed character, quality, or origin; not counterfeit; authentic; real: genuine sympathy; a genuine antique.
- decorated — (often initial capital letter) of pertaining to, or characteristic of the English gothic architecture of the late 13th through the late 14th centuries, characterized by curvilinear tracery, elaborate ornamental sculpture and vaulting, and refinement of stonecutting techniques.
- unembellished — to beautify by or as if by ornamentation; ornament; adorn.
Top questions with meretricious
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See also
Matching words
- Words starting with m
- Words starting with me
- Words starting with mer
- Words starting with mere
- Words starting with meret
- Words starting with meretr
- Words starting with meretri
- Words starting with meretric
- Words starting with meretrici
- Words starting with meretricio
- Words starting with meretriciou
- Words starting with meretricious