Definitions for specious
ˈspi ʃəsspe·cious

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. specious, spuriousadjective

   plausible but false

   "a specious claim"; "spurious inferences"

2. gilded, meretricious, speciousadjective

   based on pretense; deceptively pleasing

   "the gilded and perfumed but inwardly rotten nobility"; "meretricious praise"; "a meretricious argument"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. speciousadjective

   Seemingly well-reasoned or factual, but actually fallacious or insincere; strongly held but false.

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

2. speciousadjective

   Having an attractive appearance intended to generate a favorable response; deceptively attractive.

3. speciousadjective

   Beautiful, pleasing to look at.

4. Etymology: From speciōsus "good-looking".

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Speciousadjective

   Etymology: specieux, Fr. speciosus, Latin.

   1. Showy; pleasing to the view.

   The rest, far greater part,
   Will deem in outward rites and specious forms,
   Religion satisfy’d. John Milton.

   She next I took to wife,
   O that I never had! fond wish too late!
   Was in the vale of Sorec, Dalila,
   That specious monster, my accomplish’d snare. John Milton.

   2. Plausible; superficially, not solidly right; striking at first view.

   Bad men boast
   Their specious deeds on earth which glory excites,
   Or close ambition varnish’d o’er with zeal. John Milton.

   Somewhat of specious they must have to recommend themselves to princes; for folly will not easily go down in its natural form. Dryden.

   Temptation is of greater danger, because it is covered with the specious names of good nature and good manners. John Rogers.

   This is the only specious objection which our Romish adversaries urge against the doctrine of this church in the point of celebacy. Francis Atterbury.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. specious

   Specious is an adjective used to describe something that appears to be true, valid, or attractive but is actually false or deceptive upon closer examination. It's typically used to refer to arguments or propositions that are misleading and lack real merit or validity.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Speciousadjective

   presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy

2. Speciousadjective

   apparently right; superficially fair, just, or correct, but not so in reality; appearing well at first view; plausible; as, specious reasoning; a specious argument

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Specious

   spē′shus, adj. that looks well at first sight: showy: plausible: appearing actual, not merely imaginary.—ns. Spēcios′ity, Spē′ciousness, plausible appearance.—adv. Spē′ciously. [Fr.,—L. speciosus, showy—species, form—specĕre, to see.]

The Roycroft DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. specious

   That form of argument used as an indoor sport by East Aurora natives in an attempt to prove that two or three make four.

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for specious »

1. cosies up

How to pronounce specious?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say specious in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of specious in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of specious in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of specious in a Sentence

1. Don Barthelme:

   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.

2. Bernard Mandeville:

   Ashamed of the many frailties they feel within, all men endeavor to hide themselves, their ugly nakedness, from each other, and wrapping up the true motives of their hearts in the specious cloak of sociableness, and their concern for the public good, they are in hopes of concealing their filthy appetites and the deformity of their desires.

3. Geoff Kelly:

   These thieves were not sophisticated criminals, as evidenced by the fact that two of the paintings were cut out of their frames, the significant value of the stolen artwork seems to have elevated the status of the thieves to master criminals but that's a specious assumption.

4. Dan Moulthrop:

   This is a specious attempt to smear an organization that has done nothing other than insist on fair debates where facts and the truth are respected.

5. Rita Glavin:

   The timing of this charge, on the eve of Tish James ' announcing Tish James ' run for Governor, is highly suspect and should give all of us pause that the heavy hand of politics is behind this decision, we expect clear-headed people will make better decisions going forward, but should this case move forward we are prepared to vigorously defend the Governor and challenge every aspect of the specious, inconsistent and uncorroborated allegations made against him.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=specious
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Specious
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=specious
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specious
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=specious
7. ^ The Roycroft Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36566/36566-h/36566-h.htm#:~:text=specious
8. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=specious