SPECIOUS: "superficially plausible but actually false; deceptively pleasing"

By MsW


Appearing fair - but not
"specious claims" 

"Specious" describes something that appears true, correct, or genuine on the surface but is actually misleading, deceptive, or false upon closer examination.

Etymology: The term 'specious' finds its roots in the Latin word 'speciosus,' meaning 'good-looking.' Initially, it denoted beauty or visual appeal. However, across centuries, its meaning evolved to characterize something that is deceptively appealing. It originates from the Latin 'speciosus' (fair, beautiful), derived from 'specere' (to look), ultimately stemming from the Indo-European root 'spek-' (to observe).

Sample sentences:

  1. His argument seemed convincing at first, but upon analysis, it was revealed to be specious and lacked substantial evidence.

  2. The advertisement made specious claims about the product's effectiveness, which turned out to be entirely fabricated.

  3. She presented a specious excuse for her absence, but her true reasons eventually came to light.

4. The proposal had a specious veneer of feasibility, but experts quickly pointed out its flaws.

5. The specious reasoning behind his decision led to unintended consequences that were easily avoidable with proper analysis.


"a specious claim" 
specious \SPEE-shuhs\, adjective:
1. Apparently right; superficially fair, just, or correct, but not so in reality; as, "specious reasoning; a specious argument."
2. Deceptively pleasing or attractive.
A specious theory is confuted by this free and perfect experiment.
-- Edward Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Specious is from Latin speciosus, from species, "appearance," from specere, "to look at."

SYNONYM: Meretricious 



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