MERETRICIOUS: "Tastelessly showy; Based on pretense; deceptively"

"Meretricious" is an adjective used to describe something that appears attractive or flashy but lacks real value, often resembling the characteristics associated with prostitution or being showy in a gaudy or insincere way.

Etymology: The term "meretricious" traces its origins to the Latin word "meretricius," which means pertaining to a prostitute. It is derived from "meretrix," meaning prostitute, which itself comes from "merere," meaning to earn money.

Sample sentences:

1. The meretricious decorations in the room seemed opulent but lacked any genuine artistic value.
2. Her speech was filled with meretricious promises that failed to address the real issues at hand.
3. The advertisement's meretricious claims about the product's miraculous effects were quickly debunked by experts.
4. The building's façade was adorned with meretricious gold paint, disguising its structural deficiencies.
5. His flashy, meretricious style of dressing did little to conceal his lack of sophistication.

"a meretricious yet stylish book"
"meretricious praise"; "a meretricious argument"

Synonyms for "meretricious" might include: gaudy, flashy, showy, superficial, tawdry, or pretentious.

Antonyms could be: genuine, authentic, sincere, substantive, or tasteful.

If illustrating "meretricious," you could use an image of a glamorous but cheaply made item, like a glittery piece of costume jewelry that looks extravagant at first glance but lacks quality upon closer inspection.

Alternatively, a picture of an ostentatious but poorly constructed building could represent something meretricious—a structure that appears grand but lacks genuine architectural merit or stability.