speciousness

Noun
Synonyms: meretriciousness

Open English WordNet

Noun (1)

  1. an appearance of truth that is false or deceptive; seeming plausibility“the speciousness of his argument”Synonyms: meretriciousnessType of deceptiveness, obliquity

Related words specious adjective

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

“speciousness” is listed under Specious.

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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