Meaning & use
superficial person
Last updated
Meanings
phrasecountabledisapproving
Someone who cares mainly about how things look or seem, not about deep or serious qualities.
Grammar: Countable phrase: use a/an or the before it, e.g. 'She is a superficial person.'
Patterns
- be a superficial person
- seem like a superficial person
- a superficial person who ...
He seemed like a superficial person because he only talked about clothes and money.
A superficial person may know many people but have few close friends.
She is not a superficial person; she asks real questions about your life.
adjectivenot comparabledisapproving
Used after a linking verb to describe someone who lacks depth in feelings or thinking.
Grammar: Not usually used before a noun in this pattern; say 'she is superficial', not 'a superficial she'.
Patterns
- be superficial
- seem superficial
- come across as superficial
He comes across as superficial when he only talks about himself.
Some people think she is superficial, but she is just shy.
The character is written as superficial, so the audience does not trust him.
Common combinations
- a superficial person
- She is a superficial person who judges people by their shoes.
- seem superficial
- He may seem superficial at first, but he is actually thoughtful.
- come across as superficial
- If you only talk about brands, you will come across as superficial.
- superficial conversation
- We had a superficial conversation about the weather.
- superficial charm
- His superficial charm did not hide his lack of honesty.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shallow
- Shallow is a stronger and more direct criticism of a person's lack of depth; superficial can also mean only on the surface.
- frivolous
- Frivolous suggests not serious or silly, often about behavior or interests, not just a lack of depth.
- empty
- Empty can describe a person who seems to have no real feelings or ideas; it is more literary and harsh.
Opposites
Word family
- superficially adverb
- In a way that only concerns the surface; not deeply.
- superficiality noun
- The quality of being superficial; lack of depth.
Commonly confused: superficial person or superfluous? superficial person or supercilious?
superficial person vs superfluous
Superfluous means more than is needed or wanted, not shallow or not deep.
superficial person vs supercilious
Supercilious means behaving as if you are better than others; it is about pride, not lack of depth.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'superficial person' correctly.
Choose one answer.
The phrase needs an article before the adjective and noun: 'a superficial person'. Option B misses 'a'; option C puts the adjective after the noun; option D leaves out the noun 'person'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “superficial person”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.