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Pretense vs Specious - What's the difference?

pretense | specious |

As a noun pretense

is (us) a false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.

As an adjective specious is

seemingly well-reasoned, plausible or true, but actually fallacious.

pretense

English

Alternative forms

* pretence (Only correct spelling in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and historical use in the United States) * (archaic)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (US) A false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.
  • Intention or purpose not real but professed.
    • with only a pretense of accuracy
  • An unsupported claim made or implied.
  • An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.

    • Synonyms

    * affectation denotes deception for the sake of escape from punishment or an awkward situation * false pretense * fiction * imitation * pretext * sham * subterfuge * See also

    Related terms

    * pretend * pretender * pretension * pretentious * pretentiousness

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * * *

    specious

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Seemingly well-reasoned, plausible or true, but actually fallacious.
    • This idea that we must see through what we have started is specious , however good it may sound.
  • *1776 , Thomas Paine,
  • *:I have frequently amused myself both in public and private companies, with silently remarking, the specious errors of those who speak without reflecting.
  • Having an attractive appearance intended to generate a favorable response; deceptively attractive.
  • (obsolete) Beautiful, pleasing to look at.

    • Synonyms

    * fallacious, insincere * (with appearance intended to generate a favorable response) meretricious

    Derived terms

    * speciosity * speciously * speciousness

    Anagrams

    *