as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive
a specious argument that really does not stand up under close examination
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Recent Examples of specious
All the effort of life, disguised as specious, distracted entertainment.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
This is primarily due to an unbalanced shift to new generation sources requiring 24/7 backup from traditional generation sources, which were too soon taken out of service based on specious assumptions about a trace atmospheric gas.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 2 Aug. 2025
This post will attempt to separate the fundamentals of what just happened to NPR and PBS from the noise and the chaotic politics of the moment that led to the defunding — bearing in mind that there have been plenty of specious arguments and claims on both sides of the issue.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
The administration for weeks ignored a court order to bring back only to return him to prosecute him on specious old allegations.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for specious
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
This is primarily due to an unbalanced shift to new generation sources requiring 24/7 backup from traditional generation sources, which were too soon taken out of service based on specious assumptions about a trace atmospheric gas.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 2 Aug. 2025
This post will attempt to separate the fundamentals of what just happened to NPR and PBS from the noise and the chaotic politics of the moment that led to the defunding — bearing in mind that there have been plenty of specious arguments and claims on both sides of the issue.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
The administration for weeks ignored a court order to bring back only to return him to prosecute him on specious old allegations.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for specious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specious
Adjective
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Their arrest followed The Osefos allegedly making false and misleading claims after an April 2024 burglary at their family home that led to the insurance fraud criminal charges.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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Judge calls for use of body cameras Credibility questions have long trailed law enforcement agencies, whether federal or local, and police statements immediately after an arrest have occasionally proved to be incorrect or misleading.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Dealers and lenders have long engaged in deceptive and predatory practices that jack up prices for car buyers in order to line their pockets.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
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This looks like an attempt to clean up their devastated public image following the Federal Trade Commission’s strong BOTS Act and deceptive practices case against them.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Several residents who work in the Georgia King Village area weighed in on the incident, including Harriette Guity, who told News12 that false reports based on AI could stretch first responders thin.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Archaeologists concluded the structure was actually a false tomb, or a cenotaph, a type of burial monument erected to honor a deceased person buried elsewhere.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specious. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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