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
If lawmakers can alter this contract for spurious reasons, why not mortgages or car loans?
—
Jay Neveloff, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025
Jax, an artist who photographed the event, offered a totally different, spurious backstory for swaggotry.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 25 June 2025
Today, spurious depictions of South Africa as an anti-white hellscape swim in the same waters.
—Time, 9 June 2025
First simply keeping Paul from her, lawyer Laurent then gets the courts involved, filing spurious allegations of the ugliest kind in a successful bid to get her custody suspended entirely.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Jay Neveloff, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025
Jax, an artist who photographed the event, offered a totally different, spurious backstory for swaggotry.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 25 June 2025
Today, spurious depictions of South Africa as an anti-white hellscape swim in the same waters.
—Time, 9 June 2025
First simply keeping Paul from her, lawyer Laurent then gets the courts involved, filing spurious allegations of the ugliest kind in a successful bid to get her custody suspended entirely.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurious
Adjective
-
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) wants the Trump administration to crack down on counterfeit risks posed by domestic entities.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
18 July 2025
-
Fake websites, impersonator accounts and counterfeit listings can erode trust quickly, and often without warning.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
He’s hosted several world leaders for explosive Oval Office sit downs, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who Trump argued with over false claims that white farmers in the country were victims of a genocide, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
In November 2009, Richard pleaded guilty to the latter charge, while Mayumi pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting to authorities, per CNN.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Trump’s comments came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against U.N. official Francesca Albanese, accusing her of pushing illegitimate efforts at the International Criminal Court targeting U.S. and Israeli leaders.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
9 July 2025
-
And then, on top of it, I was born out of some affair like some illegitimate, sinful mistake?—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
There’s a massive global scam operation that uses real payment methods on fake checkout pages.—
Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
-
Additional increases in the quantity and quality of weapons sent to Ukraine would underpin that message and would have a better chance than anything else of persuading Putin to replace fake negotiations with the real thing.—
The Editors,
National Review,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
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.—
Angela Trakoshis,
Allure,
11 July 2025
-
Even if that means stepping into a version of themselves that feels unnatural.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
No illegible, incomplete, forged or altered entries will be accepted.—
Sourcing Journal,
Sourcing Journal,
12 June 2025
-
This pendant light is iron forged and hand finished with an antique brass finish to achieve a storied charm befitting French country, traditional, transitional, and cottage bedroom designs.—
Maria Conti,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
In a recent mock draft, Baseball America speculated the Sox would select Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold if the run on prep shortstops left him on the board.—
Phil Rogers,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Ali had ceased looking towards the horizon long before the luminous blue of it became a mock memory.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
But not Hochman, whose strained diplomacy has raised eyebrows.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
-
The story of Mbappe’s move to the Bernabeu last summer and his strained relations with PSG could fill several tomes, given the intensity of Madrid’s almost decade-long pursuit of the forward — and the fallout continues to this day.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurious. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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