1
as in counterfeit
being such in appearance only and made or manufactured with the intention of committing fraud
a spurious Picasso painting that wouldn't have fooled an art expert for a second
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in false
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
claimed that the governor's election-year enthusiasm for conservation was spurious, since he had cut funding for state parks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in illegitimate
born to a father and mother who are not married
the spurious son of Charles II, the Duke of Monmouth would later mount a rebellion in a disastrous attempt to claim the throne
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spurious
The move has perturbed even some of Zelenskyy’s supporters — people who are simultaneously worried about the heavy-handed and potentially spurious crackdown on dissent, and that such criticisms against the Ukrainian leader might be used in bad faith by opponents in Moscow or Washington.
—
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 July 2025
Law enforcement officers would arrest young men, usually Black but also white, on spurious charges and lease them to private companies for profit.
—Time, 17 July 2025
Non-residents can go hunting for memories (accurate or spurious) in the public-facing areas on the lower floors, the 4 percent of the building that has been brilliantly restored.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 July 2025
Though the book largely revolves around spurious media coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, El Akkad’s great talent is in showing how, over the past few decades, corporate journalism and western powers have undermined our ability to confront global atrocities.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 July 2025
Law enforcement officers would arrest young men, usually Black but also white, on spurious charges and lease them to private companies for profit.
—Time, 17 July 2025
Non-residents can go hunting for memories (accurate or spurious) in the public-facing areas on the lower floors, the 4 percent of the building that has been brilliantly restored.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 July 2025
Though the book largely revolves around spurious media coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, El Akkad’s great talent is in showing how, over the past few decades, corporate journalism and western powers have undermined our ability to confront global atrocities.
—Vulture Editors, Vulture, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurious
Adjective
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First Alert 4 reported that this counterfeit note was marked as ancestor money, a symbolic bill burned as a ritual offering in Chinese culture.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Today’s teens are navigating an ecosystem where counterfeit Oxycodone, Xanax, Percocet and Adderall are accessible on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat and Telegram.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Tesla is still fighting a false advertising lawsuit from California's DMV.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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And that’s really false advertising.—
Alex Crippen,
CNBC,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Also endangering the family name and business is a crooked deal made by Byron Hedges (Jack Gleeson), an illegitimate cousin helping Guinness expand into America, that promises 15% of all American profits to the Fenian Brotherhood.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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The play’s serious depiction of class politics and illegitimate birth were considered shocking by contemporary audiences.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In a world where fake medical implants, counterfeit microchips, and cloned devices can threaten lives, money, and security, proving that a physical object is truly genuine is a major challenge.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Oct. 2025
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The Broncos also were successful on a fake punt in the fourth quarter.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These techniques can sometimes feel unnatural.—
Christine Buzan,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2025
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Drafting in English and translating often produces stilted, unnatural messages.—
Adam Mills,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The rest of the bike is heavily customized with forged wheels, top-spec Brembo brakes, 43-mm Öhlins FGR250 forks, and an Öhlins TTX monoshock.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Sep. 2025
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An email with a forged attachment may be followed by a phone call or even a video appearance that reinforces the deception.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The program for career day will feature panels, mock interviews and networking opportunities.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
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Looking ahead, the researchers plan to conduct more complex experiments using mock debris with different shapes and compositions.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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After missing the Heat’s first five preseason games with a strained hamstring, Rozier played in his first exhibition of the year on Friday.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
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If staffing levels remain strained, a single storm or tech glitch could cause nationwide ripple effects that ruin travel plans for millions.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurious. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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