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
This contradiction serves as the essence of barstool conversion rock: moral messages coming from spurious messengers.
—
Aja Romano, Vox, 8 July 2025
On the technical side, managers should know how to read a model card, notice spurious correlations, and ask for confidence intervals.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Based on the nature of state board appointments and reports of Boelter’s political background, claims of ties to the DFL are spurious.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 22 June 2025
If lawmakers can alter this contract for spurious reasons, why not mortgages or car loans?
—Jay Neveloff, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Aja Romano, Vox, 8 July 2025
On the technical side, managers should know how to read a model card, notice spurious correlations, and ask for confidence intervals.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Based on the nature of state board appointments and reports of Boelter’s political background, claims of ties to the DFL are spurious.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 22 June 2025
If lawmakers can alter this contract for spurious reasons, why not mortgages or car loans?
—Jay Neveloff, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurious
Adjective
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Ownership is clear, authenticity is unquestionable, and counterfeit coins simply cannot exist within the network.—
Becca Bratcher,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Five people from New York — including two juveniles — were arrested on Monday and accused of trying to use counterfeit money at a number of businesses in Westport.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
5 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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During the week, Fernande lived alone in the family’s Paris apartment under a false name: Danielle Deschampe.—
Marc Snegg,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Russian President Vladimir Putin claims Zelenskyy is illegitimate and has called for new elections in Ukraine.—
Chris Massaro,
FOXNews.com,
23 July 2025
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To many early Americans, particularly those within the Washington and Adams administrations, self-government rendered popular protest illegitimate and obsolete.—
Time,
Time,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Trump still puts himself on fake magazine covers for validation, but some version of his celebrity and influence — and the attendant and unnerving public scrutiny — is now available to anyone who wants it.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
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In some cases, scam victims have reached out to fraudsters on fake websites, which look legitimate, in hopes of recovering their funds.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Every great defense has that type of unnatural DNA, and across the entire team, Ulbrich expressed to CNN.—
Hailey Hurst,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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That’s because Google’s algorithms are designed to spot and penalize unnatural link patterns.—
Nick Zviadadze,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Authorities also searched his jail cell and allegedly discovered the blue pen used to write the letters as well as contact information for the Wisconsin Attorney General’s Office and the Milwaukee ICE office, both recipients of the forged threats.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
4 June 2025
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This pendant light is metal forged and features two arms that extend 40 inches wide, inviting eyes to move across the room.—
Maria Conti,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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To supplement those real-life cases, providers visit simulation labs, do monthly mock scenarios, and review advanced skills, such as using an ultrasound to help guide breathing tubes into patient airways.—
Arielle Zionts. KFF Health News,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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The tin box includes a hinged plastic clear window where a small paper copy of an issue of The Daily Planet, featuring a large photo of Superboy’s canine pal Krypto on the front page with a mock story.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Power grids are strained, data centers are bottlenecked and companies keep throwing more hardware at the problem.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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Although family relations might be a bit strained today, this is still a great day for discussions about finances, shared property, inheritances and banking matters.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurious. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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