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
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
Federal Judge Randolph Moss struck down the Trump administration’s near total ban on asylum under the specious argument that the country was under invasion.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025
In any event, the legal complaints against Trump’s response are specious.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for specious
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
Federal Judge Randolph Moss struck down the Trump administration’s near total ban on asylum under the specious argument that the country was under invasion.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 July 2025
In any event, the legal complaints against Trump’s response are specious.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for specious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specious
Adjective
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While this might not sound like a large number of soldiers for an entire continent, the number itself is misleading.—
Daniel R. DePetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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But that figure is misleading if interpreted as a direct price for data.—
Seth Joseph,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There will be a temptation because of his height to draw parallels with Moyes’ use of Marouane Fellaini and Soucek, two key pillars of his Everton and West Ham sides, but where Rohl is concerned, his size can be deceptive.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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In 2024, CarShield paid $10 million to settle allegations by the Federal Trade Commission that its ads were deceptive and that customers discovered many repairs were not covered.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Representatives for James have called the fraud claims made against her politically motivated and false.—
Robert Faturechi,
ProPublica,
6 Sep. 2025
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On the next play, Taylor was called for a false-start penalty.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specious. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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