superficial

[soo-per-fish-uhl] / ˌsu pərˈfɪʃ əl /

ADJECTIVE

without depth, detail

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cursory frivolous one-dimensional perfunctory silly sketchy slight trivial

WEAK

apparent casual cosmetic depthless desultory empty evident exterior external flash flimsy general glib half-baked hasty hurried ignorant inattentive lightweight nodding on the surface ostensible outward partial passing peripheral quick-fix seeming shallow shoal skin-deep slapdash smattery summary surface tip of the iceberg uncritical warped

Antonyms

STRONGEST

complete important mature sensible serious significant thoughtful wise

WEAK

analytical careful deep detailed genuine thorough

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It's worth mentioning that the rules have had some superficial positives, mainly to do with racing.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

The video includes photos of superficial scratches on the vehicle’s expensive leather seats and door panel.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

Meg Hoyt, chair of the Belfast Cycle Campaign group, said that cyclists had "come to expect this type of superficial engagement from the department".

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Her intervention brought renewed focus to the first couple’s friendship with Epstein, which Trump described as superficial and noted that “overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach.”

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

Perhaps the recipients will make nothing of it, or think it is a recording of a pulsar, which in some superficial sense it resembles.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Vocabulary lists containing superficial

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