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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of specious
Kennedy’s skill at flooding his audiences with specious claims that sound logical or highbrow was on full display during his 2023 interview with the podcaster Joe Rogan.
—
Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025
The specious comparison of women’s beach volleyball to football is not how a proper Title IX analysis works.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2025
But Kirkwood and director Sarah Benson leave no room for such a specious critique.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 June 2024
These days, those sorts of proclamations tend to feel more specious than ever.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for specious
Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2025
The specious comparison of women’s beach volleyball to football is not how a proper Title IX analysis works.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2025
But Kirkwood and director Sarah Benson leave no room for such a specious critique.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 June 2024
These days, those sorts of proclamations tend to feel more specious than ever.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for specious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specious
Adjective
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Without resources or expertise to vet influencers properly, these companies become vulnerable to deceptive practices.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
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In 2022, the California DMV sued Tesla, saying the company engaged in deceptive marketing and advertising practices around its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Uncanny valley is a term for a reason: The brain can only take so much false information that’s appears to be real.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
5 May 2025
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Beach furniture and other recreational equipment (e.g., cabanas, umbrellas, canoes, small boats, bicycles) can reduce nesting success and increase false crawls on nesting beaches when left out overnight.—
Lexie Beach,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Specious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specious. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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