meretricious

For Daisy Dixon, who teaches philosophy at Cardiff University, the idea has nothing to do with art that is poorly executed, intellectually meretricious, technically sloppy or aesthetically kitschy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The production can’t hide the show’s meretricious heart, but like the song that Scherzinger endows with Puccini-esque splendor, Lloyd has discovered “new ways to dream” Webber’s musical.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2024

The economic crash of 1929 descended on America like an ice age, ending a meretricious prosperity.

From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2023

If early Camaros were classic boomer rock, a third-generation model — sold from 1982 to 1992 — was ’80s hair metal, more meretricious flash and dubious accessories than performance chops.

From New York Times ● Apr. 5, 2023

Some, like the great cathedral of Valladolid, of more pretension, but still showing the same austere character in their designs, furnished excellent models of architecture to counteract the meretricious tendencies of the age.

From History of The Reign of Philip The Second King of Spain Volume The Third and Biographical & Critical Miscellanies by William Hickling Prescott