Specious vs. Spurious: What's the Difference?
Specious and Spurious Definitions
Specious
Having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually fallacious
A specious argument.
Spurious
Lacking authenticity or validity in essence or origin; not genuine
Spurious poems attributed to Shakespeare.
Specious
Deceptively appealing
"It is easy enough to give the old idea [of programmatic music] a specious air of modernity" (Aaron Copland).
Spurious
Not trustworthy; dubious or fallacious
Spurious reasoning.
A spurious justification.
Specious
Seemingly well-reasoned, plausible or true, but actually fallacious.
This idea that we must see through what we have started is specious, however good it may sound.
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Spurious
(Archaic) Born to unwed parents.
Specious
Employing fallacious but deceptively plausible arguments; deceitful.
Spurious
False, not authentic, not genuine.
His argument was spurious and had no validity.
Specious
Having an attractive appearance intended to generate a favorable response; deceptively attractive.
Spurious
Extraneous; stray; not relevant or wanted.
I tried to concentrate on the matter in hand, but spurious thoughts kept intruding.
Spurious emissions from the wireless mast were causing nearby electrical equipment to go haywire.
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Specious
(obsolete) Beautiful, pleasing to look at.
Spurious
(archaic) bastardly, illegitimate
Specious
Alt form of speciose.
Spurious
Not proceeding from the true source, or from the source pretended; not genuine; counterfeit; false; adulterate.
Specious
Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy.
Some [serpents] specious and beautiful to the eye.
The rest, far greater part,Will deem in outward rites and specious formsReligion satisfied.
Spurious
Not legitimate; bastard; as, spurious issue.
Specious
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.
In consequence of their greater command of specious expression.
Spurious
Plausible but false;
Specious reasoning
The spurious inferences from obsolescent notions of causality
Specious
Plausible but false;
Specious reasoning
The spurious inferences from obsolescent notions of causality
Spurious
Born out of wedlock;
The dominions of both rulers passed away to their spurious or doubtful offspring
Specious
Plausible but false;
A specious claim
Spurious
Intended to deceive;
A spurious work of art
Specious
Based on pretense; deceptively pleasing;
The gilded and perfumed but inwardly rotten nobility
Meretricious praise
A meretricious argument
