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specious

adjective

Reveal meaning and examples

Appearing convincing or correct while actually being misleading or unsound.

The specious argument treated two unrelated events as proof of a cause.
Dictionary practice example.
A student committee proposed moving its exhibition to a smaller room on the premise that less wall space would reduce preparation time. The rationale sounded practical, since the volunteers had only one afternoon to install the work. However, a claim that a smaller room must always be easier to prepare was specious: it ignored the possibility that the available space would require additional stands and a new arrangement.
From Answering the Argument.
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