superficial
94
5.6
- adjective
- /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃəl/
:
superficial
- Her comments during the meeting were superficial, focusing only on the surface level without any critical insights.
- superficial understanding
- superficial similarities
- superficial learning
It is a very superficial knowledge of this man.
- It is a very superficial knowledge of this man.
- But it's more than the superficial scripts of a midlife crisis.
- It's hard for me to give superficial flattery.
- And that would come from a, you might say, selective or superficial reading of Stoic texts.
- I know that might sound so superficial or some people might think that there are worse things.
- And I would say, yeah, I think we've by and large become more superficial.
- And there's been, there's been a focus on increasingly brief, increasingly superficial and increasingly cheap interventions.
- If you strip away all the superficial features of a thing, of a pursuit, what's left?
- That is to say, these differences remain pure forms, superficial vanishing moments.
- Like super, super superficial faith is what this is to me.
- Money means power, validation, bragging rights, superficial stuff like cars and clothes and stuff.
Examples
-
By now she's probably been in and out of half a dozen other superficial relationships.
Fiction book (2000) -
Becoming more selective and less interested in superficial relationships, with an increasing need for solitude.
Academic text (1999) -
It's not just the superficial, you know, car, house, whatever it is.
-
But it's not fair to judge anyone after one superficial conversation.
-
You said some very superficial things.
-
At the same time, these pass rates represent a superficial measure of success.
Academic text (2015) -
Jeff is the one who wants to keep their relationship on a superficial level "with no future."
Academic text (1999) -
I'll tell you something: superficial relationships are as hard to maintain as the other kind.
Fiction book (2000) -
It is a very superficial knowledge of this man.
-
I realise that this is completely superficial and that underneath all that you are undoubtedly a wonderful person with wonderful human qualities.
Synonyms
124
3.4
Showing little thought or real feeling
61
6.0
To treat a difficult problem as too simple and misleading
21
7.0
Done quickly without enough attention to detail
11
8.7
Done quickly without real interest or care
5
4.7
Only on the surface and not deep inside
Done quickly and without close attention
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
A large vein along the Sylvian fissure on the side of the brain that drains into the cavernous sinus
- Specialized
A vein on the side of the head above the ear that drains blood from the scalp
- Specialized
A small vein that carries blood from the lower belly into a large thigh vein
How Thorough
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Superficial comes from the Latin parts super- 'above' and facies 'face' or 'surface', and is like the English word face. So when something or someone is superficial, they only touch the outside and are not deep or serious.