Meretriciousness

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  meretriciousness \mer`e*tri"cious*ness\ n.
     1. an appearance of truth that is false or deceptive; seeming
        plausibility.
  
     Syn: speciousness.
          [WordNet 1.5]


  
     2. tasteless showiness.
  
     Syn: flashiness, garishness, gaudiness, loudness, tawdriness,
          glitz.
          [WordNet 1.5]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Meretricious \Mer`e*tri"cious\, a. [L. meretricius, from
     meretrix, -icis, a prostitute, lit., one who earns money, i.
     e., by prostitution, fr. merere to earn, gain. See {Merit}.]
     1. Of or pertaining to prostitutes; having to do with
        harlots; lustful; as, meretricious traffic.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Resembling the arts of a harlot; alluring by false show;
        gaudily and deceitfully ornamental; tawdry; as,
        meretricious dress or ornaments.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Deceptive or based on deception; seeming plausible, but
        based on pretense or insincerity; deceptive; misleading;
        insincere; specious; as, meretricious arguments.
        [PJC] -- {Mer`e*tri"cious*ly}, adv. --
        {Mer`e*tri"cious*ness}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  meretriciousness
       n 1: an appearance of truth that is false or deceptive; seeming
            plausibility; "the speciousness of his argument" [syn: {speciousness}]
       2: tasteless showiness [syn: {flashiness}, {garishness}, {gaudiness},
           {loudness}, {brashness}, {tawdriness}, {glitz}]