as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive
a specious argument that really does not stand up under close examination
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Recent Examples of specious
These novels offer a post-colonial perspective—an understanding that, though these Americans may have done something positive in China by building roads or hospitals, their very presence, and certainly their perspective on their purpose there, is specious.
—
Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Oltmann’s specious claims against Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems, cost Coomer more than Oltmann can ever repay — his reputation, health, and safety.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Often, those complaints prove specious.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 13 Nov. 2025
The standard government claim that the victims were either resisting, assaulting or otherwise behaving illegally toward the agents often have been specious and contradicted by evidence.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for specious
Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Oltmann’s specious claims against Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems, cost Coomer more than Oltmann can ever repay — his reputation, health, and safety.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
Often, those complaints prove specious.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 13 Nov. 2025
The standard government claim that the victims were either resisting, assaulting or otherwise behaving illegally toward the agents often have been specious and contradicted by evidence.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for specious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specious
Adjective
-
In the case that led to the large sanction, Quinn Emanuel’s client Natera needed to show that science backed up the advertising statements its rival Guardant alleged were false and misleading, Chen noted in his order.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
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Job descriptions are too rigid and titles are often misleading and neither tends to truly capture what people actually do.—
Keith Ferrazzi,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
What happens when a shopping agent follows a prompt, buys from a deceptive merchant and the virtual card protects the primary account but not the customer’s time or money?—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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For these commemorative watches, Aeschlimann thought white ceramic was appropriate not only because of the color, but because of the material’s deceptive toughness.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
29 May 2026
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In January, Roberts pleaded guilty to making a false statement for employment and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm while being in the country illegally.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specious. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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