fallacious

adjective

fə-ˈlā-shəs How to pronounce fallacious (audio)
Definition of fallaciousnext
1
as in unreasonable
not using or following good reasoning it's fallacious to say that something must exist because science hasn't proven its nonexistence

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive consumers who harbor the fallacious belief that credit-card spending will never catch up with them

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fallacious There is a widespread but fallacious perception that India's tariffs are inordinately high. — Mohan Kumar, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Aug. 2025 The same economists who believe in the same fallacious economic notions? — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025 That will in turn spread on social media, which often plays a disproportional role in boosting these disinformation efforts by providing nearly unlimited platforms for unfiltered content and fallacious and deceptive claims. — Peter Suciu, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 There might be a bigger market for these products, and more consumers might be immune to the fallacious argument that they’re overly processed, if more people were persuaded of the ills of factory farming. — Kenny Torrella, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 See All Example Sentences for fallacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fallacious
  1. unreasonable
  2. misleading
  3. irrational
  4. deceptive
  5. unreasoning
  6. false
  7. illegitimate
  8. unreasoned
Adjective
  • From the second Eldridge was drafted, a little devil appeared on your shoulder and whispered unreasonable expectations into your ear.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 13 July 2026
  • In a poll on the post, 95% voted that this parent is NOT being unreasonable.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 12 July 2026
Definition of unreasonable
Adjective
  • The information on garment labels is often inaccurate or misleading, according to new research by the European Commission.
    — Tamsin Blanchard, Vogue, 16 July 2026
  • The standout interlude is the soldiers’ visit to the island domain of Circe, a treacherous witch played with deceptive calm and a misleading air of distraction by a bone-chilling Samantha Morton.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Definition of misleading
Adjective
  • In both cases, cheap credit fueled the irrational exuberance.
    — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
  • An irrational holding on to the possibility of a comeback, if that was the word if no one noticed you’d retired in the first place.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of irrational
Adjective
  • At 6ft 3in (190cm) with unconventional movement mechanics, he is likened to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike for his deceptive play.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Distinguished by unique morphological features like a longer tail and specific tooth structure, alongside genetic evidence, the stingray's identification underscores the complexity of taxonomy where appearances can be deceptive.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • But in each event—in the living act, the undoubted deed—there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • Roosevelt surely understood that nameless, unreasoning, unjustified fear cannot be eradicated.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 9 June 2026
Definition of unreasoning
Adjective
  • Earlier in July, a senior security source in Tehran told CNN that the claims of nuclear activities taking place at Pickaxe Mountain were false.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Two Charlotte brokers are facing accusations of filing false life insurance applications for profit, according to North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.
    — Mark Price July 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
Definition of false
Adjective
  • Signature-matching efforts sometimes disqualify more legitimate than illegitimate ballots.
    — Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 15 July 2026
  • If the Hand of God effectively flipped the bird to the English side—then as now, Diego Maradona’s first goal was farcically illegitimate—the Argentine captain’s subsequent score was something out of the divine intervention catalogue.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of illegitimate
Adjective
  • In each case, the actual right to your body is deferred to some third party, either the paternalists, the hypothetical children, or unreasoned authority.
    — Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2011
Definition of unreasoned

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Cite this Entry

“Fallacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallacious. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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