speciousness
Deceptive surface logic
Speciousness is the quality of seeming true, correct, or attractive while actually being false or flawed.
A specious argument looks sound until examined closely.
The word often implies deception—intentional or not—through surface plausibility: The speciousness of his reasoning became clear only after we'd already voted.
Decorative outer layer
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- glossShine or annotation
- shallownessLack of depth
- meretriciousnessFalse, vulgar attractiveness
tinsel · window dressing · gilding · false front · flashiness · showiness
Misleading logical trickery
- sophistryDeceptive reasoning
- equivocationAmbiguous language avoiding commitment
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
ad hominem · non sequitur · straw man · begging the question · hasty generalization · false dilemma · slippery slope · casuistry
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
deceit · disingenuousness · pretense · misrepresentation · fabrication · falsity · distortion · pretext
veneer
Decorative outer layer
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- glossShine or annotation
- shallownessLack of depth
meretriciousness · tinsel · window dressing · gilding · false front · flashiness · showiness
sophism
Misleading logical trickery
- sophistryDeceptive reasoning
- equivocationAmbiguous language avoiding commitment
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
red herring · ad hominem · non sequitur · straw man · begging the question · hasty generalization · false dilemma · slippery slope · casuistry · false cause
guile
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
chicanery · deceit · disingenuousness · pretense · misrepresentation · fabrication · falsity · distortion · pretext · insincerity
speciousnesssoundness
Reliability of structure
validity · cogency · rigor · legitimacy · solidity
speciousnessgenuineness
Quality of being real
authenticity · legitimacy · realness · truthfulness · veracity
speciousnesscandor
Unguarded truthfulness
forthrightness · honesty · transparency · straightforwardness · frankness
respect, special, aspect, specific, suspect, inspect, species, perspective, specialist