superficial
being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
of or relating to the surface: superficial measurement.
external or outward: a superficial resemblance.
concerned with or comprehending only what is on the surface or obvious: a superficial observer.
shallow; not profound or thorough: a superficial writer.
apparent rather than real.
insubstantial or insignificant: superficial improvements.
Origin of superficial
1Other words from superficial
- su·per·fi·ci·al·i·ty [soo-per-fish-ee-al-i-tee], /ˌsu pərˌfɪʃ iˈæl ɪ ti/, su·per·fi·cial·ness, noun
- su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb
- qua·si-su·per·fi·cial, adjective
- qua·si-su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb
- sub·su·per·fi·cial, adjective
- sub·su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb
- sub·su·per·fi·cial·ness, noun
- un·su·per·fi·cial, adjective
- un·su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb
Words Nearby superficial
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use superficial in a sentence
You might object that the approach creates only superficial mimicry — the way some alchemists claimed to have “made gold” by applying some surface treatment to another metal that induced chemical reactions to gave the metal a golden sheen.
Popular critiques of millennials, in the mid-2000s and beyond, ranged from “They’re too entitled” to “Technology and social media are making them superficial.”
He also suffered a superficial wound to his left thigh and a graze wound to his forehead.
Prosecutors charge teen in fatal shooting of two protestors and wounding of a third in Kenosha | kdunn6 | August 28, 2020 | FortuneThe government could easily make superficial efforts to address public backlash against visible data collection without really touching the core of the Ministry of Public Security’s national operations, says Wang, of Human Rights Watch.
Inside China’s unexpected quest to protect data privacy | Tate Ryan-Mosley | August 19, 2020 | MIT Technology Review“They have a superficial understanding of the marketplace,” he added.
‘You need to fix the entire line’: Publishers’ sales and revenue teams struggle with entrenched diversity problem | Max Willens | July 10, 2020 | Digiday
Her Miss America win transcended mere superficial beauty standards.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America? | Emily Shire | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut it will take more than superficial solidarity to dismantle those structures and the ideologies that birthed them.
It is loathed by some critics who find it patronizing, silly, and superficial.
'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble | Kevin Fallon | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe implication is that she might even have assisted her husband inflicting his superficial wounds.
Did Joran Van Der Sloot Fake His Prison Shanking? | Andrea Zarate, Barbie Latza Nadeau | November 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTEvery Bentley is made to order, which essentially means anything “superficial” is possible.
"It has a superficial, glittering prettiness, without—" I hesitated to find the word I wanted.
Three More John Silence Stories | Algernon BlackwoodThis design reveals a stumbling-block that superficial people fall over.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickSo strong were prejudices in favour of superficial morality in even that licentious age!
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries | Charles G. HarperA little or superficial knowledge may incline a man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth him back to religion.
Gospel Philosophy | J. H. WardIn touching truly deep and serious things Mistral is often superficial, and passes them off with a commonplace.
Frdric Mistral | Charles Alfred Downer
British Dictionary definitions for superficial
/ (ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl) /
of, relating to, being near, or forming the surface: superficial bruising
displaying a lack of thoroughness or care: a superficial inspection
only outwardly apparent rather than genuine or actual: the similarity was merely superficial
of little substance or significance; trivial: superficial differences
lacking originality or profundity: the film's plot was quite superficial
(of measurements) involving only the surface area
Origin of superficial
1Derived forms of superficial
- superficiality (ˌsuːpəˌfɪʃɪˈælɪtɪ) or rare superficialness, noun
- superficially, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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