meretricious, meretriciously 1. Attracting attention in a vulgar manner. 2. Plausible but false or insincere; specious: 'He had a meretricious argument.' 3. Of or relating to prostitutes or prostitution: 'They had meretricious relationships.' Believe it or not, but this word is related to the origins of merit; literally, 'one who earns money' fro... Found on http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/3580/