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
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
Today’s sleek, simple anti-It Bags, on the other hand, telegraph a less meretricious sort of chic.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, WSJ, 7 Jan. 2023
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
Today’s sleek, simple anti-It Bags, on the other hand, telegraph a less meretricious sort of chic.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, WSJ, 7 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meretricious
Adjective
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But for Hondo to tackle this new job without ever engaging with any old pals will be conspicuous.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
24 May 2025
-
For 53 years, this massive performance complex has served — with bipartisan grace and, at its best, conspicuous American flair — to honor a single U.S. president.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Even the endless parade of records this match set doesn’t quite do justice to the remarkable tennis on display.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
8 June 2025
-
Despite encountering macroeconomic challenges, the brand persists as a global growth powerhouse with an expanding international presence and remarkable efficiency.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
The brilliant fruits of tessellated talents at opposite sides of the world.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
The Emerald Coast beaches have fine quartz crystal sand and brilliant green waters, which give the coastline its eponymous name.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
Ethical Efficiency insists that systems be designed to truly find and elevate the best solutions, not simply reward the loudest voices or most privileged perspectives.—
Karlo Tanjuakio,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Just after dawn on May 29, the swish of chains dragging on asphalt was loud enough to be heard over idling engines.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
The dog's most distinctive feature—a noticeable facial deformity—raised immediate questions.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
-
Even more notably, Tha Carter V sold a massive 480,000 units in its debut week back in 2018, underscoring a noticeable slide in first-week performance over the years.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
The dark-reddish countertops are visually dramatic and incredibly durable.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2025
-
For organizations, this evolution promises dramatic improvements in operational efficiency, financial transparency and business agility.—
Bo Jiang,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
This tall, airy verbena is very striking when the wispy stems wave in the breeze.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 June 2025
-
Nickerson became a person of interest in the case just days after Peterson was killed, when he was arrested in an unrelated crime and detectives noticed his booking photo bore a striking resemblance to a police sketch of the teacher’s killer.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
Most impressively, Kohli has been able to tweak his game, batting with more explosiveness at the top of the order to produce an outstanding season for RCB.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
The Chicago Bar Association’s award for outstanding lawyer is named in her honor.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Meretricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meretricious. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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