specious

Adjective
US[spee-shuhs]/ˈspiʃəs/2 syllables
Synonyms: spuriousgildedmeretriciousglossy

Open English WordNet

Adjective (2)

  1. plausible but false“a specious claim”“spurious inferences”Synonyms: spuriousOpposite trueSimilar false
  2. based on pretense; deceptively pleasing“the gilded and perfumed but inwardly rotten nobility”“meretricious praise”“a meretricious argument”Synonyms: gildedmeretriciousglossyOpposite sincereSimilar insincere

Related words meretriciousness noun, speciousness noun

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Spe′cious adjective

Origin: L. speciosusgood-looking, beautiful, specious, fr. species look, show, appearance; cf. F. spécoeux. See Species.

1. Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy.

Some [serpents] specious and beautiful to the eye.— Bp. John Richardson
The rest, far greater part, Will deem in outward rites and specious forms Religion satisfied.— John Milton

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

Misled for a moment by the specious names of religion, liberty, and property.— Thomas Babington Macaulay
In consequence of their greater command of specious expression.— John Morley

Synonyms: Plausible; showy; ostensible; colorable; feasible. See Plausible.

— Spe′wb-a1′>′xious·ly (#), adverb — Spe′wb-a1′>′cious·ness, noun

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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