You queried:

meretriciousness "

Results retrieved for:
    • \ ˌmer-ə-ˈtri-shəs \

    Your query is considered offensive by most official sources.

    ( some results may take a moment to update )


    [Adjective]  | "mer*e*tri*cious" | \ ˌmer-ə-ˈtri-shəs \


    1: tastelessly showy and falsely attractive

    2: superficially significant : pretentious

    3: of or relating to a person who engages in sex acts and especially sexual intercourse in exchange for pay


    Origin: 1626 ;

     Borrowed from Latin meretrīcius of women who engage in sex for financial considerations (adjective derivative of meretrīc-, meretrīx woman who engages in sex acts for financial considerations, from mere-, stem of merēre to earn + -trīc-, -trīx, feminine agent suffix) + {see: |-ous|-ous} {mat|merit:1|};

     [ "meretricious" ]

    1: tawdrily attractive--one who looks like a prostitute

      * e.g.,  ... the young woman with heavy eyeliner and floofy hair was meretricious 

     [ "meretricious" ]

    1: Relating to the having of hoish characteristics.

      * e.g.,  ... Wow, the girl in the garter and stripper boots is really meretricious. 

     [ "Meretricious" ]

    1: Tawdrily and falsely attractive; superficially significant. Don’t confuse this one with delicious. Tidbit from Merriam-Webster: “Meretricious can be traced back to the Latin verb merere, meaning ‘to earn, gain, or deserve.’ It shares this origin with a small group of other English words, including ‘merit, meritorious, and emeritus.’ But, while these words can suggest some degree of honor or esteem, ‘meretricious’ is used to suggest pretense, insincerity, and cheap or tawdry ornamentation.”

      * e.g.,  ... Ohhh wow its so meretricious 

     No results from Words API...

     No results from Linguatools Conjugations API...

     No results from Words API...

     No results from Word Associations API...


    * Query The Library of Babel *
    * Query Wikipedia *
    * Query Google *

    * Discuss! *


    You must be signed in to post comments!


    Top comments for:
    "meretriciousness"