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
In 2025, that feeling, however specious or temporary, is potent cultural currency.
—
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Kennedy, who rose to prominence as a high-profile figure in the anti-vaccine movement, has made a variety of specious and debunked claims about vaccine harms.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 9 June 2025
The case was resolved on Jan. 13 of this year when the judge dismissed de Blasio’s specious case in an 81-page ruling.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025
Inside, the layout is streamlined and intuitive, with a door-in-door compartment for quick grabs, a specious full-width drawer, and a three-tier organization system in the freezer.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for specious
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Kennedy, who rose to prominence as a high-profile figure in the anti-vaccine movement, has made a variety of specious and debunked claims about vaccine harms.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 9 June 2025
The case was resolved on Jan. 13 of this year when the judge dismissed de Blasio’s specious case in an 81-page ruling.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025
Inside, the layout is streamlined and intuitive, with a door-in-door compartment for quick grabs, a specious full-width drawer, and a three-tier organization system in the freezer.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for specious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specious
Adjective
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These emails are loaded with deceptive links that lead to malware infections, and the consequences can be severe.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and American Civil Liberties Union say the software companies push deceptive marketing practices, exploit fear, normalize invasion of privacy and erode trust.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Fleeing from violence and a dark history, a man adopts a false identity looking to start over in the idyllic Canary Islands' town of Arcadia, where a new love interest could change his life — if his past doesn't come back to haunt him.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Newsom's $787 million suit seeks the same amount as the 2023 settlement Fox reached with Dominion Voting Systems after the voting machine company accused Fox News of knowingly pushing false conspiracy theories that Dominion rigged the 2020 presidential election in Joe Biden's favor.—
Olivia Rubin,
ABC News,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specious. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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