as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive
a specious argument that really does not stand up under close examination
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of specious
Advertisement The next ‘Big Lie’ That brings us to 2024, when, if Trump loses, we will be inundated with false videos, firsthand stories and other specious proofs of the undocumented immigrant votes that turned the election.
—
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
The pattern seekers are more interested in uncovering a juicier story than finding justice for victims who must now compete with specious secret-society rhetoric and crude Diddy memes to be heard.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024
Some even promoted the specious claim that 4-AcO was the poisoning culprit.
—Robert Johnson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2024
Gigs mostly confirms this message, casting a sidelong look into how a burgeoning star lost himself in the specious and solitary world of intractable celebrity.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for specious 
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
The pattern seekers are more interested in uncovering a juicier story than finding justice for victims who must now compete with specious secret-society rhetoric and crude Diddy memes to be heard.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024
Some even promoted the specious claim that 4-AcO was the poisoning culprit.
—Robert Johnson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2024
Gigs mostly confirms this message, casting a sidelong look into how a burgeoning star lost himself in the specious and solitary world of intractable celebrity.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for specious
Thesaurus Entries Near specious
Cite this Entry
“Specious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/specious. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share