specious
adjective
Superficially plausible but actually wrong; misleading in appearance, especially of an argument that sounds correct but is not.
Etymology
From Latin "speciosus" (good-looking, beautiful), from "species" (appearance). The meaning shifted from "attractive" to "attractive but deceptive."
Examples in Use
- 1.
"His specious reasoning fooled many who didn't examine it closely."
- 2.
"The company made specious claims about their product's benefits."
- 3.
"Specious logic led to dangerously wrong conclusions."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
The word's evolution from positive to negative is remarkable. In Shakespeare's time, "specious" meant genuinely beautiful. By the 18th century, it had completely reversed to mean falsely attractive.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 8 letters (S, P, E, C, I, O, U, S)
Scrabble Value: 12 points
Tip: Look for common letter combinations like "SP" at the start of words.
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