superficial Definition
su·per·fi·cial (so̵̅o̅′pər fis̸h′əl)
adjective
- of or being on the surface a superficial burn
- of or limited to surface area; plane superficial measurements
- concerned with and understanding only the easily apparent and obvious; not profound; shallow
- quick and cursory a superficial reading
- seeming such only at first glance; merely apparent a superficial resemblance
Etymology: ME superficyall < L superficialis < superficies: see superficies
superficial Related Forms
superficial Synonyms
superficial
modif.
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.
Browse dictionary entries near superficial
- ‹ superfetation
- ‹ superfecundation
- ‹ superfecta
- ‹ superfamily
- ‹ superette
- ‹ supererogatory
- ‹ supererogation
- ‹ supererogate
- ‹ supereminent
- ‹ superego
- superficiality ›
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