Word: meretricious (adjective)

Associations

The word "meretricious" describes something that looks attractive or impressive but is actually of little value or has a deceptive appearance. It often implies something flashy, showy, or superficially pleasing but lacking real worth or sincerity.

• Example 1: "The movie was full of meretricious special effects but had a weak story." Here, the effects look impressive but don’t add real quality.
• Example 2: "She wore meretricious jewelry that looked expensive but was actually fake." The jewelry looks valuable but is not.
• Example 3: "His meretricious charm fooled many people, but he was not trustworthy." His charm seems appealing but is insincere.

Synonym: superficial.
Difference: "Superficial" means shallow or only on the surface, while "meretricious" adds the idea of being falsely attractive or deceptive.

Substitution

You can replace "meretricious" with words like:

• flashy (focuses on bright or showy but not good quality)
• gaudy (too bright or decorated in a bad way)
• superficial (only surface-level, not deep or real)
• deceptive (intended to trick or mislead)

Each substitute changes the meaning slightly. For example, "flashy" is more about appearance, while "deceptive" emphasizes tricking others.

Deconstruction

The word "meretricious" comes from Latin "meretricius," which means "pertaining to prostitutes" (from Latin "meretrix" meaning "prostitute"). Originally, it referred to something that attracts attention like a prostitute’s showy behavior, but without real value or respectability.

• Root: "meretr-" from "meretrix" (prostitute)
• Suffix: "-icious" (forms adjectives meaning "full of" or "having qualities of")

Inquiry

• Can you think of something in your life that seemed attractive at first but later appeared meretricious?
• How would you describe a person who uses meretricious behavior to get what they want?
• Can something be meretricious but still enjoyable? Why or why not?

Thinking about these questions helps you understand the deeper meaning and use of "meretricious."