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
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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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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
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But because the signals are so faint, they can be drowned out by cheap jammers or replaced by counterfeit ones.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The constant threat of counterfeit goods must be faced when navigating the secondary market.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The false assurance was more than a slip.—
Eric Tucker,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Robinson, the founder of the now-defunct anti-immigration English Defence League (EDL), was released from prison earlier this year, having been jailed for being in contempt of court by repeating false accusations about a Syrian refugee.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The play’s serious depiction of class politics and illegitimate birth were considered shocking by contemporary audiences.—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Sep. 2025
-
After the death of Stebbins (Garrett Wareing), the Major’s illegitimate son, Ray and Pete are the only Long Walkers left.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Colbert made several jokes about needing a job and even brought a fake resume with a youthful headshot of himself.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The Nepalese government, citing concerns over fake accounts, hate speech, disinformation and fraud, said the measures were to ensure accountability and make operators responsible for content on their platforms.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In its world premiere, SECOND NATURE challenges the notion that queerness is unnatural, by turning to nature itself — and the science that dismantles the myth of the gender binary.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
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Stories abound in folklore of the unnatural taking the place of the natural.—
Adam Verner
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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On the other hand, the forged carbon edition on a rubber strap will set you back at EUR 449 / INR 39,995 (not available in the U.S.).—
Prakhar Khanna,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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He’s charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Whose idea was this, and what kinds of settler-colonial relations does this mock holdup invert?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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Sweater My grandmother also purchased this 100 percent cashmere mock-neck sweater to have on hand in case the weather requires an extra layer.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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One of the main challenges facing the economy is the strained relationship between Beijing and Washington as disputes over technology and geopolitics mount.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
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Photothek via Getty Images Against the backdrop of a strained labour market, many workers feel obliged to overperform.—
Alliance Manchester Business School,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurious. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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