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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The same economists who believe in the same fallacious economic notions?
—
John Tamny, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Lawyers who argued for his ouster on behalf of the National Assembly said the claims by Mr. Yoon were fallacious.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 1 Apr. 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
John Tamny, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Lawyers who argued for his ouster on behalf of the National Assembly said the claims by Mr. Yoon were fallacious.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 1 Apr. 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
Adjective
-
Importantly, the president already has full legal authority to impose tariffs when other nations’ behavior places an unreasonable burden on our economy, including through environmental negligence.—
Chip Lamarca,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The logic was that Spirit had projected the league would grow at a rate that the league itself found unreasonable, and so would not be able to field a team while also paying Rodman.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Experts immediately pointed out that Hassett had used a misleading method known as a cubic fit to make the mortality data appear less frightening.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
For its misleading omissions, the Times story deserves a flunking grade.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Cramer warned that these moments can feel chaotic — even irrational — but are often driven by valuation extremes finally snapping back toward equilibrium.—
Luke Fountain,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Often, these unjustifiable fears arise simply because people draw irrational conclusions from rational concerns.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Gumihos are mythical, fox-like creatures out of Korean folklore known for their nine tails, deceptive behavior, and magical powers.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
-
There was a bill introduced last legislative session that would have empowered citizens to sue for allegedly deceptive practices, fraud, harassment, intimidation or misrepresentation during the acquisition of land access agreements by carbon pipeline land agents.—
Meghan O’Brien,
States Newsroom,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Let sound political prescience but take the place of an unreasoning prejudice, and this will be done.—
Frederick Douglass,
The Atlantic,
16 Aug. 2017
Adjective
-
Plants that provide winter interest, including sedums, goldenrod, blue false indigo, and ornamental grasses.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Today’s teenagers can produce a TikTok video in minutes, but how many of them will learn to analyze the president’s false claim that Tylenol causes autism?—
Mary Ellen Klas,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
So Maduro is an illegitimate leader.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Maduro was an illegitimate despot who had violated every agreement, including one in 2023 with the Biden administration, which proposed to lift sanctions in exchange for holding free and fair elections.—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Fallacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fallacious. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
