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
Many politicians and government employees learned from The Times that they had been targeted with spurious filings.
—
Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, agents will be talking up their clients and spurious links made with all manner of players.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Soon papers were published with claims of galaxies at redshifts of 10, 11 and even higher—and while many of those preliminary measurements wound up being spurious, several were ultimately confirmed out to redshifts greater than 14.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 25 Dec. 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.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, agents will be talking up their clients and spurious links made with all manner of players.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Soon papers were published with claims of galaxies at redshifts of 10, 11 and even higher—and while many of those preliminary measurements wound up being spurious, several were ultimately confirmed out to redshifts greater than 14.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 25 Dec. 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.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurious
Adjective
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Federal agents arrested Granati and Ortuno and found counterfeit Spanish and Venezuelan passports and driver licenses on them, the affidavit says.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
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Though rocket and drone attacks are also to blame, another major hazard is GPS (Global Positioning System) spoofing—the transmission of counterfeit satellite navigation signals.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Chapman is charged with making a false statement during a firearm purchase and engaging in the business of firearms dealing without a license.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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Thomas Edward Manfredi, 33, is charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury and making a false police report, according to an arrest warrant.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But then a mysterious Romany woman (Rebecca Ferguson) turns up, and persuades him to return to Birmingham, in order to bring his violent illegitimate son (Barry Keoghan) – who now runs his Peaky Blinders mob – to heel.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
12 Mar. 2026
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In a July public comment letter, Experian argued it should not be required to respond to individual CFPB complaints and that the vast majority of those filed recently are illegitimate.—
Joel Jacobs,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If filmmakers can prompt fake actors to deliver precise performances, where does that leave human actors?—
Holly Willis,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2026
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The 18-minute fake pitch meeting!—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The video was a standout moment alongside the romantic ballad, though, as Bruno picked up the guitar and delivered on the Latin love story with a mock wedding — and pulled on the heartstrings with a relationship that just about everyone would sign up to grow old for.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
10 Mar. 2026
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The Wildcats feature potential first-round picks in freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, with Motiejus Krivas mentioned in some mock drafts.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Weeks before her husband's death, she is accused of fraudulently securing a $100,000 life insurance policy for her husband with his forged signature, and then fraudulently claiming the benefits following his death, according to the charging document.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
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Peters now faces two felony charges for possession of a forged instrument and possession of dangerous drugs, as well as a misdemeanor charge for using a fake ID to enter a bar.—
Helen Rummel,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The biggest factor separating natural from unnatural results is judgment, knowing how much is enough and when to stop.—
Carlos Wolf,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Some swim-current systems can create uneven or turbulent flow, which can make swimming feel unnatural.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When Sony ultimately gets its way, Anderson and DiCaprio’s once-close relationship is noticeably strained on set.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
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Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with those claims at a White House meeting last year that underlined the strained relationship.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurious. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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