superficiality
Americannoun
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the fact or quality of being at or near, or relating to, the surface.
From the superficiality of the wound, and our promptness in treating it, I had no doubt it would heal quickly.
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the fact or quality of being external or outward only.
In her films evil often seems attractive, but the superficiality of this attraction is always revealed in the end.
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the fact or quality of being concerned only with what is obvious, external, or on the surface.
Superficiality and "looking good" take precedence in a culture that values appearances over genuine achievement.
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shallow quality; lack of depth or thoroughness.
Any book that attempts a survey of literature covering hundreds of years and multiple genres runs the risk of superficiality.
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the fact or quality of being insubstantial or insignificant.
The superficiality of the changes is likely the real reason critics have not compared the two versions of this play.
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the fact or quality of being merely apparent rather than real.
The scene reveals the superficiality of his concern for his wife—all he really cares about is the family’s reputation.
Etymology
Origin of superficiality
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.
Superficiality aside, Jones suggested appearance matters, especially winning over Republican women who may be more comfortable voting for a Democrat "whose behavior and demeanor doesn't seem much different from their own."
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2018
A better title for the article would have been "In Boulder, Where Unfathomable Wealth Meets Unthinkable Superficiality" Totally pointless article that hits on all the clichés of Boulder history and ignores all the downsides.
From New York Times • Aug. 31, 2016
Superficiality, vanity, passion for dress, fickleness, and so forth, do not satisfy his sense of propriety.
From The Progressionists, and Angela. by Bolanden, Conrad von
Superficiality was no part of these northern men.
From The Snowshoe Trail by Marshall, Edison
Superficiality is sometimes a gracious and a blessed thing.
From Our Own Set A Novel by Schubin, Ossip
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
