specious
Americanadjective
-
apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible.
specious arguments.
- Antonyms:
- genuine
-
pleasing to the eye but deceptive.
- Synonyms:
- misleading, false
- Antonyms:
- genuine
-
Obsolete. pleasing to the eye; fair.
adjective
-
apparently correct or true, but actually wrong or false
-
deceptively attractive in appearance
Related Words
See plausible.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of specious
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin speciōsus “fair, good-looking, beautiful,” equivalent to speci(ēs) ( see species) + -ōsus adjective suffix; see -ous
Compare meaning
How does specious compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Use specious to describe an argument that seems to be good, correct, or logical, but is not so. We live on the earth, therefore the earth must be the center of the universe. This has been proven to be a specious theory of the solar system. Specious is pronounced "SPEE-shuhs." Something that is specious is attractive in a deceptive way, and if you follow the word's etymology, you'll see why. In Middle English, this adjective meant "attractive," from Latin speciōsus, "showy, beautiful," from speciēs, "appearance, kind, sort."
Vocabulary lists containing specious
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Specious ones to the left, weird ones to the right—all arise from motivated reasoning.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025
"Specious and spurious legal bullying of artists should be vigorously opposed, and that opposition must begin first and foremost with all of us in the New York Theatre community," the letter says.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 19, 2012
Specious assumption, too; but that requires brass, and I want gold.
From Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 05, April 30, 1870 by Various
Specious promises led to theories, theories to declamations, declamation to combination, combination to denunciation, and denunciation to open hostilities.
From The Monikins by Cooper, James Fenimore
Specious, speculative; given to eloquence, diplomacy, and the windy instead of the solid arts;—always short of money for one thing.
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 02 by Carlyle, Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
