Meanings of specious plea in English

That was a specious plea which even had in it a certain element of truth.

Nor would any specious plea sidetrack him.

Unscrupulous proselytisers on the specious plea of "Canadianization" have weaned them from the faith of their fathers.

This specious plea assumed that the legal-tender note was simply a promise to pay, with only the qualities of an individual obligation.

On the somewhat specious plea that Holy Writ might have a chastening effect, she was permitted to minister to me in my shame.

Under the specious plea of efficiency and absurd reason of uniformity, they will not even grant charters to independent institutions of higher learning.

Whatever specious plea might be made for the independent and separate sovereignty of the old thirteen States, the argument could not apply to Louisiana.

No one has a moral right to believe what is false, much less to teach it, under the specious plea of freedom of thought.

"Has it become so intolerable that you desire to commit suicide, under the specious plea of philanthropic martyrdom?"