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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurious
Adjective
  • Besides a brand-new design, the cards also have enhanced anti-counterfeit protections.
    Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Kamaitis was age 31 when he was mentioned in a Free Press article about the increasing circulation of counterfeit automotive parts being a concern for federal officials and automakers as well as a safety risk.
    Christina Hall, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Evaluating defamation claims where the report contains demonstrably false factual assertions.
    Tim Reynolds, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
  • However, as several independent experts interviewed by NPR note, that claim is false.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • Methanol is an industrial chemical that can cause nerve and liver damage and is sometimes found in fake or poorly distilled alcohol.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Aside from games like volleyball and dominoes, Gach says some children stage fake ambushes on one another while pretending to be government forces or rebel fighters.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • However, his unnatural exit from the sport made headlines in his final season at the Bahrain Grand Prix through an incident that reminded everyone about the dangers of motorsport.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Imitating the speech or body language of others during a conversation is another form of masking, along with forcing eye contact or facial expressions, which may feel unnatural.
    Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • The forged plateau creates extra space for components, like a larger battery.
    Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Flight 11 will target those same two splashdown zones, and Ship will aim to deploy another eight mock Starlinks, SpaceX wrote in Monday's update.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Recently, Taylor invited her daughter’s class to Euronews Albania for a behind-the-scenes look at how television is made, where the children took part in mock interviews and explored the studio with wide-eyed excitement.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Qatar is deepening its presence in Egypt after more than a decade of strained ties.
    Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Reports about father and son’s strained relationship have been everywhere of late.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurious. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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