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 arguments failed to convince the audience. [specious: adjective]
Example
The advertisement made specious claims about the product's effectiveness. [specious: adjective]
fallacious
Example
The fallacious reasoning in his argument was quickly exposed. [fallacious: adjective]
Example
The conspiracy theory was based on fallacious assumptions and false information. [fallacious: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fallacious is more commonly used than specious in everyday language. Fallacious is a more versatile term that can be used to describe a wide range of false or flawed arguments or beliefs, while specious is less common and tends to be used in more specific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between specious and fallacious?
Both specious and fallacious are formal words that are typically used in academic or professional settings to describe flawed or deceptive arguments or reasoning.
