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
But Optimo Hats founder Graham Thompson, who probably knows more about hats than anyone dead or alive, waves this off as a specious piece of armchair history.
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Nathan King, Air Mail, 18 Oct. 2025
Inside, the layout is streamlined and intuitive, with a door-in-door compartment for quick grabs, a specious full-width drawer, and a three-tier organization system in the freezer.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 29 Aug. 2025
Both comparisons are specious and serve little purpose other than to radicalize the respective bases of each party.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 7 Aug. 2025
The ineffectual nature of California’s energy policies are why advocates of California going green fall back on specious arguments, like the idea that California must continue inflicting higher energy costs on its residents to inspire other states and even the world to follow suit.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for specious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specious
Adjective
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Experts immediately pointed out that Hassett had used a misleading method known as a cubic fit to make the mortality data appear less frightening.—
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For its misleading omissions, the Times story deserves a flunking grade.—
Adjective
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While not everyone gets their wishes, those with no interest in taking on the deceptive — and challenging — role of a Traitor likely won't be chosen.—
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The legal claims included negligence, wrongful death, deceptive trade practices, and product liability.—
Adjective
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Plants that provide winter interest, including sedums, goldenrod, blue false indigo, and ornamental grasses.—
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Today’s teenagers can produce a TikTok video in minutes, but how many of them will learn to analyze the president’s false claim that Tylenol causes autism?—
Cite this Entry
“Specious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specious. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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