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
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
The reports proved spurious, but Gordon still saw an emotional truth.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
This contradiction serves as the essence of barstool conversion rock: moral messages coming from spurious messengers.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 8 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
Time, 17 July 2025
The reports proved spurious, but Gordon still saw an emotional truth.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
This contradiction serves as the essence of barstool conversion rock: moral messages coming from spurious messengers.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 8 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
-
Authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom have warned consumers that counterfeit Labubu are poorly made and may contain small, detachable parts such as eyes, hands, and feet, which present a serious choking hazard to young children.—
Haicen Yang,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
-
An exam by an independent certified jeweler confirmed the watches were counterfeit.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Representatives for James have called the fraud claims made against her politically motivated and false.—
Robert Faturechi,
ProPublica,
6 Sep. 2025
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On the next play, Taylor was called for a false-start penalty.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
What the rest of the MacKenzies don’t know, however, is that Ellen, in the midst of her grief, has fallen head over heels for Brian, the illegitimate son of the despicable Lord Lovat (Tony Curran) and a member of a rival clan.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Dumas’ injunction states that any decisions made in meetings with Weatherington claiming the chair seat are illegitimate.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Made of durable silk, this fluffy 26-inch wreath can be used all-year long, and can even be decorated to your liking with tinsel or fake flowers.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Sep. 2025
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Here’s another Rolex that may or may not be fake!—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Stories abound in folklore of the unnatural taking the place of the natural.—
Adam Verner
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
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Changing these molecules would create an unnatural mirror image of a cell, as different as your right hand from your left.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
He’s charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
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The subdials are in blue, yellow and red in honor of the Colombian flag, and the forged carbon tachymeter bezel is framed with a ring of rose gold.—
Nancy Olson,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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The conversations, of course, were mock for journalistic purposes.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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The piping adds an athletic flair to the mock-neck sweater and sweatpant set, and small slits on the front of the hems add extra interest.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Associated Press What To Know Maduro's comments come after decades of strained relations between the two countries, with Washington refusing to recognize his presidency since 2019 in favor of the opposition leader Juan Guaidó.—
Suzanne Blake
John Feng
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
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There is nothing funny about the film’s jokey title, which is just a strained metaphor.—
Caryn James,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurious. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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