What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
specious
Example
The politician's specious promises were quickly exposed as lies. [specious: adjective]
Example
The specious reasoning behind the conspiracy theory fell apart under scrutiny. [specious: adjective]
deceptive
Example
The magician used deceptive techniques to make the audience believe in his illusions. [deceptive: adjective]
Example
The company's deceptive advertising practices misled customers into buying their products. [deceptive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deceptive is more commonly used than specious in everyday language, especially in the context of advertising, politics, and law. Specious is less common and tends to be used in more formal or intellectual contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between specious and deceptive?
Specious is generally considered more formal than deceptive, which is used in both formal and informal contexts.
