specious
/ˈspiːʃəs/
Group 6Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Superficially plausible but actually wrong; misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive GRE
Example in Context
The argument, while specious at first glance, collapsed under scrutiny once the flawed underlying assumptions were exposed.
Synonyms
misleadingdeceptivefalse
Etymology
Looking good on the surface but lacking true merit.
- spec- (Latin) — to look
Memory Aid
🎭Sounds like “spee-shus”
The SPEE SHUS magician made his tricks look real, but they were just illusions!
Visual Association
🪄A magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, but revealing it’s just a stuffed animal.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “specious” mean on the GRE?
specious (adjective) means “Superficially plausible but actually wrong; misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive”. The argument, while specious at first glance, collapsed under scrutiny once the flawed underlying assumptions were exposed.
How to remember “specious” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “specious” sounds like “spee-shus”. The SPEE SHUS magician made his tricks look real, but they were just illusions!
What are synonyms for “specious”?
Common synonyms: misleading, deceptive, false.