Specious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈspē-shəs/ spe·cious

Meaning & Definition of Specious

Specious (adjective)

  1. having a false look of truth or genuineness, sophistic
  2. having deceptive attraction or allure
  3. showy

Specious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. tending or having power to deceive

    "a specious argument that really does not stand up under close examination"

    similar: beguiling, deceitful, deceiving, deceptive, deluding, delusive, delusory, fallacious, false, misleading
    related: artful, crafty, cunning, devious, foxy, guileful, shady, shifty, slick, sly, sneaking, sneaky, subtile, subtle, trick, trickish, tricky, underhand, underhanded, wily, inaccurate, incorrect, wrong, bewildering, confounding, distracting, perplexing, puzzling, ambidextrous, crooked, defrauding, dishonest, dissembling, double-dealing, duplicitous, faithless, fast, fraudulent, knavish, lying, mendacious, untrustworthy, untruthful, bogus, counterfeit, fake, feigned, forged, jive (slang), phony, sham, spurious, insidious, perfidious, treacherous, ambiguous, circuitous, equivocal, evasive, artificial, backhanded, hypocritical, insincere, left-handed, two-faced
    opposite: aboveboard, forthright, nondeceptive, straightforward
    near: candid, direct, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, open, openhearted, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, straight, clarifying, elucidative, explanatory, illuminating, revealing, revelatory, honest, trustworthy, truthful

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Specious

The most common words with a similar meaning to Specious:

beguiling, deceitful, deceiving, deceptive, deluding, delusive, delusory, fallacious, false, misleading

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Specious

Words with the opposite meaning of Specious:

aboveboard, forthright, nondeceptive, straightforward

Related Words for Specious

artful, crafty, cunning, devious, foxy, guileful, shady, shifty, slick, sly, sneaking, sneaky, subtile, subtle, trick, trickish, tricky, underhand, underhanded, wily, inaccurate, incorrect, wrong, bewildering, confounding, distracting, perplexing, puzzling, ambidextrous, crooked

Near Antonyms of Specious

candid, direct, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, open, openhearted, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, straight, clarifying, elucidative, explanatory, illuminating, revealing, revelatory, honest, trustworthy, truthful

Word Forms of Specious

Derived words: speciously (adverb), speciousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Specious

Middle English, visually pleasing, from Latin speciosus beautiful, plausible, from species

First known use: 1513

Frequently Asked Questions about Specious

What does "Specious" mean?

"Specious" means having a false look of truth or genuineness, sophistic. As an adjective, it is defined as: having a false look of truth or genuineness, sophistic.

What is another word for "Specious"?

Other words for "Specious" include beguiling, deceitful, deceiving, deceptive, deluding, delusive, delusory and fallacious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Specious" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Specious"?

There are 75 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Specious". Common alternatives include beguiling, deceitful, deceiving, deceptive, deluding, delusive, delusory, fallacious, false and misleading.

What is the opposite of "Specious"?

Antonyms of "Specious" include aboveboard, forthright, nondeceptive and straightforward. Near antonyms include candid, direct, foursquare and frank.

How do you use "Specious" in a sentence?

Examples of "Specious" in a sentence: "a specious argument that really does not stand up under close examination".

Is "Specious" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Specious" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Specious"?

"Specious" is pronounced /ˈspē-shəs/ and divided into syllables as spe·cious.

What is the origin of the word "Specious"?

"Specious" comes from Middle English, visually pleasing, from Latin speciosus beautiful, plausible, from species. First known use: 1513.