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
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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
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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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Recent Examples of spurious
In Florida, people who provided signatures in support of the state’s ballot measure received visits from state police investigating spurious allegations of fraud, and local television stations were threatened with criminal prosecution for airing an ad in support of the amendment.
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The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
Additionally, there are mechanisms in agencies across the federal government to distinguish legitimate complaints of gender or racial bias from spurious ones.
—Reuben E. Brigety Ii, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2016
Also worth noting: This isn’t the first time spurious accusations have been used against Hagekhalil.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
Her exposé, which haphazardly connected a few spurious dots, provoked a media frenzy that led to the most famous L.A. car chase since O.J.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spurious 
The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
Additionally, there are mechanisms in agencies across the federal government to distinguish legitimate complaints of gender or racial bias from spurious ones.
—Reuben E. Brigety Ii, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2016
Also worth noting: This isn’t the first time spurious accusations have been used against Hagekhalil.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
Her exposé, which haphazardly connected a few spurious dots, provoked a media frenzy that led to the most famous L.A. car chase since O.J.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spurious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurious
Adjective
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Federal authorities have repeatedly warned that counterfeit goods threaten the health and safety of consumers.Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
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Gibson, makes its guitars exclusively in the United States, verified that the guitars were counterfeit.Tara Suter, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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He was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution and fined $25,000 for making false police reports.Megan Thomas, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
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Pam Bondi, Florida's attorney general for eight years, was part of Trump's defense team during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of fraud following the 2020 election.Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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San Diego County has made fighting the illegitimate businesses a priority and effectively eliminated them, The Times reported in June.Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024
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If recent elections are a guide, those who support the losing candidate are likely to believe that the winner is illegitimate.Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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One big new threat involves artificial intelligence scams that use fake images, texts, videos or other messages, often by impersonating a celebrity, politician, family member or friend in hopes of separating a victim from his or her money.Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 1 Dec. 2024
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For spooky season, Cuoco and Pelphrey hilariously dressed up as each other, with the actress wearing a blue NFL jersey, fake beard and baseball cap, as Matilda sported a rainbow unicorn costume.Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The animals are found in unnatural positions and drained entirely of blood by befuddled ranchers in Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Oregon and elsewhere. Sgt.Christina Coulter, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2024
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While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind.Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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With Russian visas now harder to obtain, many are now seeking legal work visas from Hungary (sometimes using forged documents), which are then used to travel through Europe to the French coast.Richard Windsor, theweek, 4 Nov. 2024
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Chen and Yu are each charged with one count of engaging in organized crime, one count of second-degree fleeing or evading police and one count of first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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There will also be humor: The backside of the outer packaging is called The Daily Dump, a mock newspaper.Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 19 Nov. 2024
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Trump won 62% of the university’s mock vote at Flagler College and won the vote by 10% at the University of North Florida.Pedro Boccalato Rodriguez Aparicio, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Set in a fictional North Carolina town, One Tree Hill begins as a story about two half-brothers, Lucas (Murray) and Nathan (Lafferty), with a strained relationship forced to navigate high school together whose social circles eventually intersect.Denise Petski, Deadline, 29 Nov. 2024
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Despite their closeness, the poster describes a strained relationship with Jenny's daughter, Ellie, who is 16.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Spurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurious. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.
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