Meaning & use

superficial

adjective·Academic

Existing or occurring only on the surface; lacking depth, thought, or seriousness.

See it in a sentence

His knowledge of the subject turned out to be only superficial.

The car suffered only superficial damage in the minor collision.

A note on using this word

Superficial can describe a physical surface, as in a superficial wound, or a lack of depth in a person's thinking or relationships.

Words with a similar meaning

shallowcursory

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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