superficial Hear it!

superficial Definition

su·per·fi·cial (so̵̅o̅′pər fis̸h′əl)

adjective

    1. of or being on the surface a superficial burn
    2. of or limited to surface area; plane superficial measurements
  2. concerned with and understanding only the easily apparent and obvious; not profound; shallow
  3. quick and cursory a superficial reading
  4. seeming such only at first glance; merely apparent a superficial resemblance

Etymology: ME superficyall < L superficialis < superficies: see superficies

superficial Related Forms

su′·per·fi′·ci·al′·ity (-ē al′ə tē) noun pl. -·ties su′·per·fi′·cially adverb su′·per·fi′·cial·ness noun

superficial Synonyms

superficial

modif.

flimsy, cursory, perfunctory, hasty, desultory, shallow, summary, short-sighted, purblind, ignorant, narrow-minded, prejudiced, warped, partial, surface, cosmetic, skin-deep, untrustworthy, outward, external, exterior, unenlightened.

Antonyms learned*, deep*, profound.

superficial implies concern with the obvious or surface aspects of a thing superficial characteristics and, in a derogatory sense, lack of thoroughness, profoundness, significance, etc. superficial judgments; shallow, in this connection always derogatory, implies a lack of depth, as of character, intellect, or meaning shallow writing; cursory, which may or may not be derogatory, suggests a brief or hasty consideration of something without pausing to note details a cursory inspection

superficial Usage Examples

Preposition: in

extreme: The author's depiction of oppositional politics and dynamics in the nationalist community is superficial in the extreme.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

make: Life speeds up and mobility increases making even familial relationships more superficial and brief.

Modifies a noun

  • resemblance: But before they arrive a woman with a superficial resemblance to Charlotte arrives at his door.
  • thrombophlebitis: Superficial thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of a vein just under the skin, usually in a leg.
  • similarity: Despite superficial similarities of hand, the three sets were in fact copied by three different scribes.
  • parotidectomy: Total parotidectomy rather than superficial parotidectomy is suggested to avoid the recurrence of the tumor.
  • vein: In normal venous return the superficial veins carry venous blood under low pressure.
  • artery: If there is no back bleeding: Squeeze the thigh to force blood out of the superficial femoral artery into the anastomosis area.

Modifying Another Word

  • somewhat: The sections are somewhat superficial, giving a flavor of the topic without very much content.
  • purely: Without a comprehensive review of all the possible hypothetical outcomes Mr Nicholls suggests that her objection is purely superficial.
  • merely: We are too apt to regard Beauty as a merely superficial thing, and do not realize all that it implies.
  • fairly: This fairly superficial survey was a great advance on previous knowledge.
  • relatively: A relatively superficial judgment might be simply to match the word with one that rhymes with it.
  • rather: The whole exercise is rather superficial; there's an emphasis on quantity rather than quality of work, particularly at primary level.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: But somehow, their crises seem superficial, their attitudes to them are soft and easy.
  • remain: You may well feel that your knowledge or understanding of some or many of the topics remains frustratingly superficial.
  • become: There is clearly a risk that high speed reviewing becomes superficial.
  • appear: At the danger of appearing superficial, I did put a lot of importance on looks.
  • consider: For some educators, this would be considered superficial, but this only serves to point to the emphasis on interiority in pedagogical discourses.
  • see: If this is the case then this form of treatment cannot be seen as superficial.