superficial

adjective

su·per·fi·cial ˌsü-pər-ˈfi-shəl How to pronounce superficial (audio)

a(1)

: of, relating to, or located near a surface

(2)

: lying on, not penetrating below, or affecting only the surface

superficial wounds

British, of a unit of measure : square

superficial foot

: concerned only with the obvious or apparent : shallow

: seen on the surface : external

: presenting only an appearance without substance or significance

superficially

ˌsü-pər-ˈfi-sh(ə-)lē How to pronounce superficial (audio)

adverb

Example Sentences

Wonderbra model Eva Herzigova sued a Canadian underwear company that refused to pay her $30,000 fee because she showed up for the photo shoot with a short haircut that company didn't like. You know, it's shameful in this day and age how superficial and sexist some of these ad execs are.

Lewis Grossberger, Mediaweek, 14 Apr. 2003 Angelina Jolie goes blond and bubbly and hell hasn't even started freezing over. The brooding brunette donned a Monroe-esque platinum coif for her most recent film, "Life or Something Like It." She plays a superficial reporter who learns what's most important in life—which is, apparently, getting it on with Edward Burns.

Katerine Stroup et al., Newsweek, 23 July 2001 All this discussion of money may seem a vulgar recital of greed. But that is really just a superficial, simplistic criticism and usually a dishonest one.

Garth Clark, Ceramics Monthly, October 2001 a superficial analysis of the results They had a superficial knowledge of the topic. These superficial changes don't address the underlying problem. The storm only caused superficial damage to the building. See More

Recent Examples on the Web So this perception of all millennials being superficial, lazy doesn't necessarily hold true.

CBS News, 7 Sep. 2022 Blizzard spokesperson Brad de Ramón confirmed all purchasable in-game items are purely superficial and won’t confer any gameplay advantages.

Jonathan Lee, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 Despite the fact that stock splits are largely superficial, tech companies that have seen stock prices soar rely on them to make trading expensive shares accessible for retail investors.

Lucy Brewster, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2022 As a rule, the exchanges between the surrogates and the intended parents were fairly superficial.

New York Times, 3 May 2022 But three years on and faced with the grim prospects of running out of energy, all policy makers are under the pressure to confront the deeper issues at a less superficial level.

Jemma Green, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2022 Paramedics took him to a hospital for treatment of what ended up being superficial wounds that were not considered life-threatening.

Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2022 But the resemblances are fairly superficial once Paper Girls gets going.

Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2022 Nor was its appeal superficial, like some of the other items pictured on the side of the ice cream truck.

Steve Kolowich, Washington Post, 26 July 2022 See More

superficial

adjective

as in surface

lying on or affecting only the outer layer of something a superficial scratch that barely even broke the skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

surface
shallow
depthless
skin-deep
shoal
two-dimensional
external

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deep
deep-seated

as in shallow

having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character a superficial analysis of how the violence in video games affects young people

Synonyms & Similar Words

shallow
skin-deep
facile
limited
one-dimensional
cursory
random
oversimple
narrow
hasty
haphazard
passing
sketchy
aimless
desultory
restricted
hit-or-miss

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

profound
deep
broad
extensive
general
penetrating
wide
definitive
exhaustive
comprehensive
hard
complete
discerning
critical
global
detailed
inclusive
far-reaching
penetrant
in-depth

Synonym Chooser

The words cursory and shallow are common synonyms of superficial. While all three words mean "lacking in depth or solidity," superficial implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features.

a superficial analysis of the problem

In some situations, the words cursory and superficial are roughly equivalent. However, cursory suggests a lack of thoroughness or a neglect of details.

gave the letter only a cursory reading

Although the words shallow and superficial have much in common, shallow is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character.

a light, shallow, and frivolous review

单词	superficial
释义	superficial adjective su·per·fi·cial ˌsü-pər-ˈfi-shəl 1 a(1) : of, relating to, or located near a surface (2) : lying on, not penetrating below, or affecting only the surface superficial wounds b British, of a unit of measure : square superficial foot 2 a : concerned only with the obvious or apparent : shallow b : seen on the surface : external c : presenting only an appearance without substance or significance superficially ˌsü-pər-ˈfi-sh(ə-)lē adverb Synonyms skin-deep surface See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Wonderbra model Eva Herzigova sued a Canadian underwear company that refused to pay her $30,000 fee because she showed up for the photo shoot with a short haircut that company didn't like. You know, it's shameful in this day and age how superficial and sexist some of these ad execs are. Lewis Grossberger, Mediaweek, 14 Apr. 2003 Angelina Jolie goes blond and bubbly and hell hasn't even started freezing over. The brooding brunette donned a Monroe-esque platinum coif for her most recent film, "Life or Something Like It." She plays a superficial reporter who learns what's most important in life—which is, apparently, getting it on with Edward Burns. Katerine Stroup et al., Newsweek, 23 July 2001 All this discussion of money may seem a vulgar recital of greed. But that is really just a superficial, simplistic criticism and usually a dishonest one. Garth Clark, Ceramics Monthly, October 2001 a superficial analysis of the results They had a superficial knowledge of the topic. These superficial changes don't address the underlying problem. The storm only caused superficial damage to the building. See More Recent Examples on the Web So this perception of all millennials being superficial, lazy doesn't necessarily hold true. CBS News, 7 Sep. 2022 Blizzard spokesperson Brad de Ramón confirmed all purchasable in-game items are purely superficial and won’t confer any gameplay advantages. Jonathan Lee, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 Despite the fact that stock splits are largely superficial, tech companies that have seen stock prices soar rely on them to make trading expensive shares accessible for retail investors. Lucy Brewster, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2022 As a rule, the exchanges between the surrogates and the intended parents were fairly superficial. New York Times, 3 May 2022 But three years on and faced with the grim prospects of running out of energy, all policy makers are under the pressure to confront the deeper issues at a less superficial level. Jemma Green, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2022 Paramedics took him to a hospital for treatment of what ended up being superficial wounds that were not considered life-threatening. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2022 But the resemblances are fairly superficial once Paper Girls gets going. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2022 Nor was its appeal superficial, like some of the other items pictured on the side of the ice cream truck. Steve Kolowich, Washington Post, 26 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Late Latin superficialis, from Latin superficies — see superficies First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1) Phrases Containing superficial superficial fascia superficial temporal artery superficial fascia superficial temporal artery Kids Definition superficial adjective su·per·fi·cial ˌsü-pər-ˈfi-shəl 1 : of or relating to the surface or appearance only a superficial cut 2 : not thorough or complete He has only superficial knowledge of the subject. Medical Definition superficial adjective su·per·fi·cial ˌsü-pər-ˈfish-əl 1 : of, relating to, or located near the surface superficial blood vessels 2 : lying on, not penetrating below, or affecting only the surface superficial wounds superficial adjective 1 as in surface lying on or affecting only the outer layer of something a superficial scratch that barely even broke the skin Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance surface shallow depthless skin-deep shoal two-dimensional external Antonyms & Near Antonyms deep deep-seated 2 as in shallow having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character a superficial analysis of how the violence in video games affects young people Synonyms & Similar Words shallow skin-deep facile limited one-dimensional cursory random oversimple narrow hasty haphazard passing sketchy aimless desultory restricted hit-or-miss Antonyms & Near Antonyms profound deep broad extensive general penetrating wide definitive exhaustive comprehensive hard complete discerning critical global detailed inclusive far-reaching penetrant in-depth See More Synonym Chooser The words cursory and shallow are common synonyms of superficial. While all three words mean "lacking in depth or solidity," superficial implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features. a superficial analysis of the problem In some situations, the words cursory and superficial are roughly equivalent. However, cursory suggests a lack of thoroughness or a neglect of details. gave the letter only a cursory reading Although the words shallow and superficial have much in common, shallow is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character. a light, shallow, and frivolous review
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superficial

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing superficial

Kids Definition

adjective

Medical Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser