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Definitions

spurious

[spyoor-ee-uhs] / ˈspyʊər i əs /
ADJECTIVE
counterfeit, fake
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bogus false phony specious
WEAK
affected apocryphal artificial assumed bastard bent bum contrived deceitful deceptive dummy ersatz faked feigned forged framed illegitimate imitation make believe mock pirate pretend pretended pseudo put on sham simulated substitute unauthentic ungenuine unreal
Antonyms
STRONGEST
genuine real true valid
WEAK
authentic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Wasserman characterized the Daily Mail report as spurious.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

The reports proved spurious, but Gordon still saw an emotional truth.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2025

It’s not a spurious conclusion: Census data shows that the percentage of women aged 30–44 with no children is higher than it’s been since 1960.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2025

The restrictions "are based on entirely spurious security and public order grounds", said Dinushika Dissanayake, an Amnesty's specialist on Europe.

From BBC • May 1, 2025

Milo nodded with spurious vim to indicate he still understood and then sat silent, ruminating gravely with troubled misgiving.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.