Specious
adjective
Appearing true or correct, but actually false or wrong.
His argument was specious and, on investigation, was found to lack evidence.
Often appears as...
- specious argument
- specious reasoning
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Appearing true or correct, but actually false or wrong.
His argument was specious and, on investigation, was found to lack evidence.
Often appears as...
- specious argument
- specious reasoning
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Flaws
Specious things seem right at first, but don't hold up to scrutiny.
The plan was specious, falling apart under careful review.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Trustworthy
Use 'specious' when something intentionally tries to deceive.
His specious smile hid his true intentions.
Pro Tip 3/3Critique Tool
'Specious' is often used to criticize arguments or ideas.
Her specious claims were quickly disproved in the debate.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Flaws
Specious things seem right at first, but don't hold up to scrutiny.
The plan was specious, falling apart under careful review.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Trustworthy
Use 'specious' when something intentionally tries to deceive.
His specious smile hid his true intentions.
Pro Tip 3/3Critique Tool
'Specious' is often used to criticize arguments or ideas.
Her specious claims were quickly disproved in the debate.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Flaws
Specious things seem right at first, but don't hold up to scrutiny.
The plan was specious, falling apart under careful review.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Trustworthy
Use 'specious' when something intentionally tries to deceive.
His specious smile hid his true intentions.
Pro Tip 3/3Critique Tool
'Specious' is often used to criticize arguments or ideas.
Her specious claims were quickly disproved in the debate.
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Video examples
How online abuse of...
And this distinction between virtual and real is specious because guess what -- that actually happened to me once when I was a child, and so that tweet brought up that trauma, and I had to do work on that.
Video examples
How online abuse of...
And this distinction between virtual and real is specious because guess what -- that actually happened to me once when I was a child, and so that tweet brought up that trauma, and I had to do work on that.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
John le Carre
English Writer
The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I borrowed elements of people I admired and invested them in this mythical character. I'm such a fluent, specious person now, but I was an extremely awkward fellow in those days.
Quote examples
George Herbert Mead
American Philosopher
Our specious present as such is very short. We do, however, experience passing events; part of the process of the passage of events is directly there in our experience, including some of the past and some of the future.
Quote examples
Zadie Smith
British Novelist
English, as a subject, never really got over its upstart nature. It tries to bulk itself up with hopeless jargon and specious complexity, tries to imitate subjects it can never be.
Quote examples
Ephraim Mirvis
South African Clergyman
Holocaust denial, once the preserve of fringe conspiracy theorists, has mutated into Holocaust obfuscation, equivocation, and specious comparison on a larger scale than ever.
Quote examples
H. W. Brands
American Historian
A president can start a war under relatively specious circumstances, and once American soldiers are under fire, Americans will support the soldiers and support the president.
Quote examples
Niccolo Machiavelli
Italian Writer
The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.
Quote examples
Edward Young
English Poet
One to destroy, is murder by the law; and gibbets keep the lifted hand in awe; to murder thousands, takes a specious name, 'War's glorious art', and gives immortal fame.
Quote examples
Maya Wiley
Attacking the ability of black people to govern through specious claims that we are a danger to white people is nothing short of disgraceful.
Quote examples
Jessica Savitch
American Journalist
When for so long you can't get a job for reasons that seem specious, you you finally do have it, you are constantly afraid of losing it.
Quote examples
Mehdi Hasan
British Journalist
To pretend that there is no such thing as the Muslim world is specious, self-deluding, and - frankly - plain silly.
Quote examples
John le Carre
English Writer
The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I borrowed elements of people I admired and invested them in this mythical character. I'm such a fluent, specious person now, but I was an extremely awkward fellow in those days.
Quote examples
George Herbert Mead
American Philosopher
Our specious present as such is very short. We do, however, experience passing events; part of the process of the passage of events is directly there in our experience, including some of the past and some of the future.
Quote examples
Zadie Smith
British Novelist
English, as a subject, never really got over its upstart nature. It tries to bulk itself up with hopeless jargon and specious complexity, tries to imitate subjects it can never be.
Quote examples
Ephraim Mirvis
South African Clergyman
Holocaust denial, once the preserve of fringe conspiracy theorists, has mutated into Holocaust obfuscation, equivocation, and specious comparison on a larger scale than ever.
Quote examples
H. W. Brands
American Historian
A president can start a war under relatively specious circumstances, and once American soldiers are under fire, Americans will support the soldiers and support the president.
Quote examples
Niccolo Machiavelli
Italian Writer
The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.
Quote examples
Edward Young
English Poet
One to destroy, is murder by the law; and gibbets keep the lifted hand in awe; to murder thousands, takes a specious name, 'War's glorious art', and gives immortal fame.
Quote examples
Maya Wiley
Attacking the ability of black people to govern through specious claims that we are a danger to white people is nothing short of disgraceful.
Quote examples
Jessica Savitch
American Journalist
When for so long you can't get a job for reasons that seem specious, you you finally do have it, you are constantly afraid of losing it.
Quote examples
Mehdi Hasan
British Journalist
To pretend that there is no such thing as the Muslim world is specious, self-deluding, and - frankly - plain silly.
Example 1 of 10
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