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Difficulty: Very hardSynonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

The defense attorney's specious arguments initially seemed persuasive to the panel, but they quickly crumbled under detailed judicial scrutiny. Which of the following words is nearest in meaning to the underlined word?

  1. fallaciousAnswer
  2. B
    convincing
  3. C
    spacious
  4. D
    thorough

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to 'specious' is 'fallacious'.
The target word 'specious' means superficially plausible but actually wrong or misleading. In the sentence, the attorney's reasoning appeared sound at first glance but failed upon deeper investigation. The word 'fallacious' directly corresponds to arguments that contain logical errors or misleading premises, making it the correct option nearest in meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual clue in the sentence
The phrase 'initially seemed persuasive... but quickly crumbled under detailed judicial scrutiny' indicates that the arguments were falsely convincing or deceptively sound.
Contextual contrast helps define the precise connotation of the target word.
2
Select the synonym matching false or deceptive reasoning
'Fallacious' means based on a mistaken belief or unsound argument, making it the exact nearest in meaning.
Matching the formal lexical definition with contextual cues confirms the correct choice.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonym Identification
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Synonyms and Words Nearest in Meaning

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