specious

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specious

plausible but false; based on pretense; deceptively pleasing: His incorrect conclusion arose from specious reasoning.

Not to be confused with:

spacious – large in expanse or scope; roomy: a spacious auditorium

spe·cious

(spē′shəs)

adj.

1. Having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually fallacious: a specious argument.

2. Deceptively appealing: "It is easy enough to give the old idea [of programmatic music] a specious air of modernity" (Aaron Copland).

[Middle English, attractive, from Latin speciōsus, from speciēs, appearance; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]

spe′cious·ly adv.

spe′ci·os′i·ty (-shē-ŏs′ĭ-tē), spe′cious·ness (-shəs-nĭs) n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

specious

(ˈspiːʃəs)

adj

1. apparently correct or true, but actually wrong or false

2. deceptively attractive in appearance

[C14 (originally: fair): from Latin speciōsus plausible, from speciēs outward appearance, from specere to look at]

ˈspeciously adv

ˈspeciousness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

spe•cious

(ˈspi ʃəs)

adj.

1. apparently true or right though lacking real merit; not genuine.

2. deceptively attractive.

3. Obs. pleasing to the eye.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin speciōsus fair, good-looking <speci(ēs) (see species)]

spe′cious•ly, adv.

spe′cious•ness, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.	1.	specious - plausible but false; "a specious claim"; "spurious inferences" spurious false - not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality; "gave false testimony under oath"; "false tales of bravery"
	2.	specious - based on pretense; deceptively pleasing; "the gilded and perfumed but inwardly rotten nobility"; "meretricious praise"; "a meretricious argument" gilded, meretricious insincere - lacking sincerity; "a charming but thoroughly insincere woman"; "their praise was extravagant and insincere"

specious

adjective fallacious, misleading, deceptive, plausible, unsound, sophistic, sophistical, casuistic The Duke was not convinced by such specious arguments.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

specious

adjective

1. Containing fundamental errors in reasoning:

fallacious, false, illogical, invalid, sophistic, spurious, unsound.

2. Devoid of truth:

counterfactual, false, spurious, truthless, untrue, untruthful, wrong.

Translations

spécieuse spécieux

specioso

specious

[ˈspiːʃəs] ADJ → especioso

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

specious

adj argument, proposal, logic → vordergründig bestechend; excuse → fadenscheinig; claim → unfundiert, fadenscheinig; charm, phrases → leer; nonsense → hohl

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

specious

[ˈspiːʃəs] adj (frm) → specioso/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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References in classic literature ?

The Cat replied, "Although you abound in specious apologies, I shall not remain supperless"; and he made a meal of him.

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Reduce the hostile chiefs by inflicting damage on them; and make trouble for them, and keep them constantly engaged; hold out specious allurements, and make them rush to any given point.

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It was his fatal habit of self-depreciation that was making Claire's words so specious as he stood there trying to cast them from his mind.

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This retention of the immediate past in a condition intermediate between sensation and image may be called "immediate memory." Everything belonging to it is included with sensation in what is called the "specious present." The specious present includes elements at all stages on the journey from sensation to image.

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Would there be no danger of their being flattered into neutrality by its specious promises, or seduced by a too great fondness for peace to decline hazarding their tranquillity and present safety for the sake of neighbors, of whom perhaps they have been jealous, and whose importance they are content to see diminished?

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Two streams of people filled the sidewalks--the home-hurrying, and that restless contingent that abandons home for the specious welcome of the thousand-candle-power

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"Sir," said Athos, "permit me to tell you, that your reasoning, though specious in appearance, nevertheless wants consistency, as regards me.

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His father persisted in his conviction that a knowledge of a farmer's wife's duties came second to a Pauline view of humanity; and the impulsive Angel, wishing to honour his father's feelings and to advance the cause of his heart at the same time, grew specious. He said that fate or Providence had thrown in his way a woman who possessed every qualification to be the helpmate of an agriculturist, and was decidedly of a serious turn of mind.

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Specious as this mode of reasoning might sound, it would not perhaps have taken so complete a hold of Boxtel, nor would he perhaps have yielded to the mere desire of vengeance which was gnawing at his heart, had not the demon of envy been joined with that of cupidity.

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'You are a specious fellow,' returned Sir John, fixing his eyes upon him, 'and carry two faces under your hood, as well as the best.

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O'CONNELL, "under what specious term it may disguise itself, slavery is still hideous.

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Ellenwood; and there was just the specious phantom of sentiment and romance in this late union of two early lovers which sometimes makes a fool of a woman who has lost her true feelings among the accidents of life.