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think of the target words sophist and specious together, as in: “That
sophist is spewing forth specious arguments! I won’t trust another
word he says.”Spurious (adjective)Not genuine, authentic, or true; false.z Spurious is often used as a synonym for specious, but it actually
has a slightly different connotation. Like specious, spurious refers
to something that is false or counterfeit, including an argument or
claim. However, as we saw, a specious argument seems plausible
on the surface; in contrast, a spurious argument is immediately
recognized as false.z Collocates are words that commonly occur together. Both specious
and spurious commonly occur with argument, reasoning, and
charges, as in such phrases as specious argument and spurious
charges.Apocryphal (adjective)Of doubtful or dubious authenticity; false.z Use the word apocryphal if you want to emphasize that a story or
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evidence for.z Originally, the Apocrypha were texts that were not included in the
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Today, urban legends are often described as apocryphal because
they are passed on by a “friend of a friend.” When you hear the
word apocryphal, think of the tales of Bigfoot or the stories you’ve
heard about alligators living in the New York City sewer system.