Resembling or having the characteristics or atmosphere of a brothel; morally disreputable or sexually suggestive.
A compound formed from 'brothel' plus the suffix '-like', meaning 'resembling' or 'similar to.' This productive suffix allows English speakers to create descriptive adjectives from any noun for immediate comparison.
The '-like' suffix is so flexible that it's become a default way to form adjectives without sounding formal—we say 'brothellike' instead of 'brothelic,' and we use '-like' more casually than we did centuries ago, showing how English streamlines itself.
Adjectival form carrying the same gendered stigma as 'brotel' and 'brotheler'—used to denigrate women's spaces or behavior as morally suspect by association with sex work.
Avoid. If describing actual sex work venues, use neutral descriptors like 'sex work establishment' instead.
["sex work establishment","commercial sex venue"]
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