pseudoscientific

This term carries a strong negative connotation and is typically used as a critique or a formal accusation of intellectual dishonesty. It describes a specific type of deception where the language, symbols, and appearance of science are adopted to lend an air of authority to claims that are not actually supported by the scientific method.

In academic and professional registers, it is used to distinguish between legitimate fringe science (which may be wrong but follows a valid process) and claims that are designed to be unfalsifiable. Because it implies a lack of integrity or a failure of logic, using this word in a casual conversation can come across as highly confrontational or dismissive.