groundless

If a rumor is groundless, it means there is no real evidence to support it. Think of "grounds" as the solid foundation for an argument or belief. If those grounds are missing, the claim is groundless. A groundless fear is worry without a good reason. People often say accusations are groundless when they feel unfairly blamed.

The word groundless describes something lacking a solid basis in fact, reason, or evidence. Imagine building a house – you need strong foundations (the "grounds") to support it. If those grounds are missing, the house will crumble. Similarly, an argument, belief, fear, or accusation is groundless if it isn't supported by anything real or logical.

It's more than just being incorrect; it implies a complete lack of justification. You might hear someone say "His anger was groundless," meaning he had no legitimate reason to be upset. Or perhaps a politician dismisses criticism as "groundless attacks," suggesting the accusations are unfair and unsubstantiated.

The word is built from the idea of "grounds" as a foundation or reason for something. That image of missing support is still the key to its meaning today. It's often used in formal contexts, like legal proceedings, but it also appears in everyday conversation when people talk about unsupported claims or fears with no clear cause.

So, if something feels flimsy, unsupported, or built on nothing more than speculation – it's likely groundless.