pseudoscientific
Masquerading as legitimate
Pseudoscientific describes claims or practices that present themselves as scientific but lack the methodology, evidence, or rigor of actual science.
Astrology, phrenology, and certain alternative medicine treatments are often called pseudoscientific: The study's methodology was pseudoscientific at best.
The label implies deception or self-deception—the appearance of science without the substance.
Not yet established
- unsubstantiatedWithout supporting evidence
- debunkedExposed as fraudulent
- discreditedProven unworthy of trust
- unfalsifiableImpossible to prove wrong
anecdotal · cherry-picked · placebo · myth · superstition · fabrication · misrepresentation · distortion
Fraudulent medical practice
- homeopathyDiluted-substance alternative medicine
- astrologyDivination by celestial positions
- phrenologySkull-bump personality assessment
- numerologyMystical significance of digits
chiropractic · acupuncture · naturopathy · dowsing · parapsychology · cryptozoology · geomancy · feng-shui
Faker claiming false expertise
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- quackFake healer or fowl noise
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- shamFraudulent imitation
con · huckster · mountebank · impostor · bogus · fakery · deception · misinformation
Disposition toward doubt
- debunkingProving claims false
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- criticismJudgment of faults
- refutationDisproving a statement
unproven
Not yet established
- unsubstantiatedWithout supporting evidence
- debunkedExposed as fraudulent
- discreditedProven unworthy of trust
unfalsifiable · anecdotal · cherry-picked · placebo · myth · superstition · fabrication · misrepresentation · distortion · illusory
quackery
Fraudulent medical practice
- homeopathyDiluted-substance alternative medicine
- astrologyDivination by celestial positions
- phrenologySkull-bump personality assessment
numerology · chiropractic · acupuncture · naturopathy · dowsing · parapsychology · cryptozoology · geomancy · feng-shui · anthroposophy
charlatan
Faker claiming false expertise
sham · con · huckster · mountebank · impostor · bogus · fakery · deception · misinformation · disinformation
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
refutation · expose · fact-checking · Sagan · falsifiability
pseudoscientificscientific
Of or using research methods
empirical · evidence-based · peer-reviewed · falsifiable · replicable
pseudoscientificlegitimate
Conforming to accepted standards
credible · scholarly · well-established · authoritative · bona fide
scientific, pseudo, unscientific, pseudoscience, pseudoscientist