| English Dictionary |
SPECIOUS
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| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does specious mean?
• SPECIOUS (adjective)
The adjective SPECIOUS has 2 senses:
1. plausible but false
2. based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
Familiarity information: SPECIOUS used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Plausible but false
Synonyms:
specious; spurious
Context example:
spurious inferences
Similar:
false (not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality)
Derivation:
speciousness (an appearance of truth that is false or deceptive; seeming plausibility)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
Synonyms:
gilded; glossy; meretricious; specious
Context example:
a meretricious argument
Similar:
insincere (lacking sincerity)
Derivation:
speciousness (an appearance of truth that is false or deceptive; seeming plausibility)
Context examples
Mr. Woodhouse must not, under the specious pretence of a morning drive, and an hour or two spent at Donwell, be tempted away to his misery.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
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