Meretricious

Pronunciation: /ˌmɛrəˈtrɪʃəs/

Definitions of meretricious

adjective apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity

Example Sentences

A1 The meretricious salesman tried to sell me a fake watch.

A2 She was disappointed when she realized the meretricious nature of the product.

B1 The advertisement was so meretricious that many people fell for it.

B2 The interior design of the restaurant was criticized for its meretricious decorations.

C1 The artist was known for creating meretricious works that lacked depth and meaning.

C2 The film was dismissed by critics as being meretricious and lacking artistic value.

Examples of meretricious in a Sentence

formal The meretricious nature of the advertisement was evident in its exaggerated claims.

informal She was tired of his meretricious compliments that never seemed genuine.

slang I can't stand people who act all meretricious just to impress others.

figurative The painting's meretricious beauty failed to capture the true essence of the artist's emotions.

Grammatical Forms of meretricious

• past tense: meretricioused
• plural: meretriciouses
• comparative: more meretricious
• superlative: most meretricious
• present tense: meretricious
• future tense: will be meretricious
• perfect tense: have been meretricious
• continuous tense: is being meretricious
• singular: meretricious
• positive degree: meretricious
• infinitive: to be meretricious
• gerund: meretriciously
• participle: meretriciouslyed

Origin and Evolution of meretricious

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'meretricious' originated from the Latin word 'meretricius' which means pertaining to a prostitute.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe something that is characteristic of a prostitute or associated with prostitution, the meaning of 'meretricious' has evolved to refer to something that appears attractive but is actually of little value or lacking sincerity.