Specious meaning

spēshəs
Specious is defined as something that looks right, or that looks attractive, but is not as it seems.

An argument that seems correct only if you do not think about it very carefully is an example of a specious argument.

adjective
3
1
Seemingly well-reasoned, plausible or true, but actually fallacious.

This idea that we must see through what we have started is specious, however good it may sound.

adjective
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Deceptively appealing.
adjective
2
1
Having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually fallacious.

A specious argument.

adjective
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Seeming to be good, sound, correct, logical, etc. without really being so; plausible but not genuine.

Specious logic.

adjective
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Having an attractive appearance intended to generate a favorable response; deceptively attractive.
adjective
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Pleasing to the sight.
adjective
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1

Origin of specious

  • Middle English attractive from Latin speciōsus from speciēs appearance spek- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin speciōsus (“good-looking").

    From Wiktionary

Specious Sentence Examples

  • This argument is rather specious than sound.

  • William of Orange was not deceived by the specious temporizing of the king.

  • But Mary had, under a specious pretext, recommenced to a slight extent the evil practice, and Elizabeth had gone a little further in the same direction.

  • The rush of the Mahommedan flood sent terror all over Europe, but the little opposition it encountered south of the Pyrenees is to be easily explained, and the victory, though genuine, was more specious than substantial.

  • In 1850 his power of specious argument won back to him his Chicago constituents who had violently attacked him for not opposing the Fugitive Slave Law.

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Also Mentioned In

Words near specious in the Dictionary