meretricious

adjective

Definition of meretriciousnext
as in conspicuous
formal + disapproving attractive in a cheap or false way meretricious beauty lacking in any real substance

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective meretricious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of meretricious are flashy, garish, gaudy, and tawdry. While all these words mean "vulgarly or cheaply showy," meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise.

a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

When is it sensible to use flashy instead of meretricious?

The words flashy and meretricious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

When could garish be used to replace meretricious?

While the synonyms garish and meretricious are close in meaning, garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

Where would gaudy be a reasonable alternative to meretricious?

The words gaudy and meretricious can be used in similar contexts, but gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

When would tawdry be a good substitute for meretricious?

Although the words tawdry and meretricious have much in common, tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy.

tawdry saloons

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of meretricious 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meretricious
  1. conspicuous
  2. remarkable
  3. brilliant
  4. loud
  5. noticeable
  6. dramatic
  7. striking
  8. outstanding
Adjective
  • The CEOs of Shell, TotalEnergies, BP, and ExxonMobil had all been due to attend this week’s WPEC but are conspicuous by their absence.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Separate flights were arranged, with Machado traveling separately from some members of the group and the journalists in an effort to make her movements less conspicuous.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of conspicuous
Adjective
  • But even the mundane conversations were remarkable in their unremarkableness.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
  • One of the reasons behind the brain's remarkable efficiency is that memory and processing take place in the same physical real estate.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of remarkable
Adjective
  • In 2001, the brilliant columnist Robert Lipsyte wrote a seminal column for The New York Times on the ugly status of college sports in American higher education.
    — Bruce Svare, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Without trust, even the most brilliant solutions struggle to take root.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of brilliant
Adjective
  • Where the movies are big, loud, overpopulated machines, the TV series are full of interesting ideas, weird notions and good comedy and give their characters room to breathe.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The doors finally open Store Manager Patrick McGuinness welcomed customers pushing their shopping carts into the store while leading loud chants, such as spelling out Wegmans letter by letter.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of loud
Adjective
  • The research fellow also argued that the additional Russian diesel entering global markets is not sufficient to produce a noticeable reduction in consumer fuel prices in the short term.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The brand's emblem, which is incorporated into the translucent monoblock LED taillight beneath the seat and is sculpted by the bike's lights themselves, is the most noticeable of all Fragment elements.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of noticeable
Adjective
  • Another image showed Fox reclining beneath the same dramatic lighting in a metallic two-piece swimsuit.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Baylor’s big quiet concern Baylor’s McLane Stadium is the centerpiece of a dramatic redesign that gives the city of Waco a visible lift that does nothing but help morale, for the university, students and residents.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of dramatic
Adjective
  • In addition to the grisly injury, the nearly translucent bone itself makes this evidence even more striking.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Other suites are even more striking, covered from head to toe in a flora wallpaper and bright, colorful custom furniture.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of striking
Adjective
  • The award, which was established by the city of Naperville in 1993, recognizes Naperville-area students for outstanding community service.
    — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • There is no court date scheduled for Wang appearing because there is still an outstanding warrant, a circuit court spokesperson said.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of outstanding

Browse Nearby Words

meres
meretricious
meretriciousness
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Cite this Entry

“Meretricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meretricious. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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