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The word for today is…

meretricious (adj) – 1. (a) Attracting attention in a vulgar manner.
(b) Plausible but false or insincere; specious.
2. Of or relating to prostitutes or prostitution.

Source : The Free Dictionary

Etymology : 1620s, “pertaining to harlots,” from Latin meretricius “of or pertaining to prostitutes,” from meretrix (genitive meretricis) “prostitute,” literally “woman who earns money,” from merere, mereri “to earn, gain” (from PIE root *(s)mer “to get a share of something”). Meaning “gaudily alluring, alluring by false attractions” is from 1630s.

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