ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)Word Knowledge (WK)Medium
Despite the team's best efforts, their innovative project was ultimately deemed <b>specious</b>, based on flawed data and unsupported claims.
- Asound
- Bplausible
- Cvalid
- Ddeceptive
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. deceptive
The word 'specious' describes something that appears plausible but is actually false or misleading. Therefore, 'deceptive' is the closest synonym.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 'Sound' means based on valid reasoning, which is an antonym.
- B. 'Plausible' means believable, which 'specious' can initially appear to be, but it lacks the core meaning of being misleading.
- C. 'Valid' means well-founded and logical, which is an antonym for specious.
Specious
Superficially plausible, but actually wrong; misleading in appearance.
- Often used to describe arguments or reasoning that seem good but are flawed.
- Implies an element of deception or trickery.
- Comes from Latin 'speciosus' meaning 'fair, plausible, showy'.
Memory trick: Specious arguments 'show' well but are 'phony' at their core.