Spurious
hardNegative toneSPYOOR-ee-us
adjective
Definition
Not genuine; false or fake
Memory hook
SPUR-IOUS: you should SPURN (reject) something spurious because it's fake and false.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The spurious claims were quickly debunked.”
“Researchers dismissed the spurious data.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The ______ claims were quickly debunked.”
Show answer
spurious
Categories
GRE Tip
Spurious is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "counterfeit" or "bogus" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "authentic".
Related GRE Words
bogus
Not genuine or true; fake
counterfeit
Made in imitation with intent to deceive; forged; fake
ersatz
Made or used as an inferior substitute for something genuine
fraudulent
Obtained, done by, or involving deception; dishonest
disingenuous
Not candid or sincere; pretending to know less than one does
fallacious
Based on a mistaken belief or unsound argument
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