HOW TO PRONOUNCE
specious
/ˈspiːʃəs/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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SPEE-shus: the first vowel is a long ee.
The ci sounds like sh. Keep the ending light and finish with an unvoiced s, rather than giving the written i a separate syllable.
TRY SAYING
“The reviewer rejected the specious argument.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗What does specious mean?
adjective
- Seemingly well-reasoned, plausible or true, but actually fallacious.
- Employing fallacious but deceptively plausible arguments; deceitful.
- Having an attractive appearance intended to generate a favorable response; deceptively attractive.
More meanings (2)
adjective
- Alternative form of speciose (“rich in species”).
- (obsolete) Beautiful, pleasing to look at.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈspiːʃəs/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
The usurpations of the legislature might be so flagrant and so sudden, as to admit of no specious coloring.
Darwin felt to the full all the ignorance that lay hidden under specious phrases like "the plan of creation" and "Unity of design."
More book examples (3)
Scythia, moreover, was yet unconquered, and the Indians too, where their ambition might be colored over with the specious pretext of civilizing barbarous nations.
Mr. Woodhouse must not, under the specious pretence of a morning drive, and an hour or two spent at Donwell, be tempted away to his misery.
This club obtained an early success in one of the political struggles in the ward and thus fastened upon itself a specious reputation for political power.