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
Synonym Usage
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.
The Friends group analyzed the district’s plan and found it specious.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
As a 25-year high-school math teacher in Alameda, Calif., I’ve listened to all the specious, spurious, self-serving excuses for denying students and families educational choice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
The “real, factual data” that underpinned Leavitt’s statement was specious at best.
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2025
These specious arguments fell flat and Congress exercised its 15th Amendment authority to stamp out efforts to prevent or intimidate Black citizens from voting.
From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2025
As such, it was of course vulnerable to the same variety of glibly undaunted and usually specious evaluations that any legitimate art object is.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
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.
