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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spurious
In May 2024, Cairo joined South Africa in its spurious legal case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of war crimes—without any evidence.
—
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
The arguments on the pro-bulk-billing side were spurious or overblown, and the MTE [multiple tenant environments] access rules have broad, bipartisan support, as well as a lot of industry support.
—Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2025
They stiff-arm congressional subpoenas or demands for information with spurious claims of state secrets, executive privilege or unwritten tradition.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
But other times, insurance companies deny claims after inadequate investigations or for spurious reasons.
—Jay Feinman, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
The arguments on the pro-bulk-billing side were spurious or overblown, and the MTE [multiple tenant environments] access rules have broad, bipartisan support, as well as a lot of industry support.
—Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2025
They stiff-arm congressional subpoenas or demands for information with spurious claims of state secrets, executive privilege or unwritten tradition.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
But other times, insurance companies deny claims after inadequate investigations or for spurious reasons.
—Jay Feinman, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurious
Adjective
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From data breaches and counterfeit products to the rapid spread of misinformation, brand image threats are constantly multiplying and evolving.—
Shay Solomon,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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An Arizona man’s arrest after allegedly passing a counterfeit $100 bill at a Chesterton pizza parlor has prompted further investigation about a potential connection to other similar incidents in Porter County.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Nothing progressive or compassionate about continuing that false hope which attracts people to make those journeys.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Apr. 2025
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Kim Soo Hyun also claimed that many text messages that had been distributed online, purportedly between him and Kim Sae-ron, were false.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, an early Jewish polemic claimed that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier nicknamed Panther—perhaps employing a tasteless but pointed pun on the Greek word parthenos (virgin).—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
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Ukraine and its Western allies have condemned those referendums, held in 2022, as illegitimate.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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At times, these characters surrounded by the green and gold blur of jungle and sunshine almost look fake, or as if they’re being shot in a studio.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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The goal of creating a convincing but fake person is at the core of A.I.’s origin story.—
Jaron Lanier,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
5 Apr. 2025
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His wife has now been charged with first degree murder and felony concealing an unnatural death.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The outlet stated that prosecutor Cray explained how the suspect had used a forged license to purchase a gun and 100 cartridges for around $843 (£650) from a private seller.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
19 Mar. 2025
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She was charged with misdemeanor identity theft and criminal possession of a forged instrument, later pleading guilty to one misdemeanor count.—
Katie Langford,
The Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This is the version (1.0) version of his mock draft, and there could easily be revisions made necessary by trades, medical history and players rising and falling.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2025
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One surprising faller in the latest mock draft from Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report is top tight end prospect Tyler Warren.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The conference illuminated the increasingly strained relationship between Israel and its traditional allies in the West, which have grown uneasy with Israeli politics and the direction of the country’s devastating war in Gaza.—
Julia Frankel and Leo Correa,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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Customer calls have surged, the Washington Post reported Tuesday, prompting long wait times for callers dialing into strained offices, where employees have few answers to give on recent changes.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurious. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
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