ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›M›meretricious
ISEE/SSAThard
meretricious
superficially attractive but lacking genuine worth
Synonyms
- flashy
- tawdry
- showy
Antonyms
- genuine
- substantial
- tasteful
meretricious in a sentence
The advertisement relied on meretricious glamour rather than evidence of quality.
The candidate's meretricious promises impressed voters until experts examined the details.
Where it comes from
From Latin meretrix, meaning 'prostitute,' from merere, 'to earn.'
Memory hook
MERETRICIOUS sounds like 'mere tricks': flashy tricks can hide a lack of real value.
Read it in context
- When the Curve Breaks Science
- The Engineered Tempest Arts
- The Season of Reckoning History
Practice meretricious in the app