Spe·cious a.
1. Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy.
Some [serpents] specious and beautiful to the eye. --Bp. Richardson.
The rest, far greater part,
Will deem in outward rites and specious forms
Religion satisfied. --Milton.
2. 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. --Macaulay.
In consequence of their greater command of specious expression. --J. Morley.
Syn: -- Plausible; showy; ostensible; colorable; feasible. See Plausible.
-- Spe*xious*ly adv. -- Spe*cious*ness, n.
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speciousness
n : an appearance of truth that is false or deceptive; seeming
plausibility; "the speciousness of his argument" [syn: meretriciousness]