meretricious

mer·e·tri·cious  (mr-trshs)

adj.

1.

a. Attracting attention in a vulgar manner: meretricious ornamentation. See Synonyms at gaudy¹.

b. Plausible but false or insincere; specious: a meretricious argument.

2. Of or relating to prostitutes or prostitution: meretricious relationships.

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[Latin meretrcius, of prostitutes, from meretrx, meretrc-, prostitute, from merre, to earn money; see (s)mer-² in Indo-European roots.]

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mere·tricious·ly adv.

mere·tricious·ness n.

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meretricious

Adjective

superficially or garishly attractive but of no real value [Latin meretrix prostitute]

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	meretricious - like or relating to a prostitute; "meretricious relationships" archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression
	2.	meretricious - tastelessly showy; "a flash car"; "a flashy ring"; "garish colors"; "a gaudy costume"; "loud sport shirts"; "a meretricious yet stylish book"; "tawdry ornaments" flash, flashy, garish, gaudy, gimcrack, tawdry, trashy, brassy, cheap, loud, tacky, tatty tasteless - lacking aesthetic or social taste
	3.	meretricious - based on pretense; deceptively pleasing; "the gilded and perfumed but inwardly rotten nobility"; "meretricious praise"; "a meretricious argument" gilded, specious insincere - lacking sincerity; "a charming but thoroughly insincere woman"; "their praise was extravagant and insincere"