1
as in surface
lying on or affecting only the outer layer of something
a superficial scratch that barely even broke the skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shallow
having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character
a superficial analysis of how the violence in video games affects young people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of superficial
Beyond the system’s superficial tone and pleasantries, Martin and Souza had to contend with the serious issue of hallucinations, or instances in which AI systems confidently share false or exaggerated information.
—
Jared Perlo, NBC news, 3 Jan. 2026
Importantly, these relationships were not superficial.
—Adam M. Kleinbaum, The Conversation, 26 Dec. 2025
Though seemingly self-centered and superficial, Shug is ultimately the one to help Celie come out of her shell and realize her own self-worth.
—Diedre Johnson, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
Drawing superficial inspiration from historic manse styles, their designs allude to the upper echelon, but are often built quickly with inexpensive materials to squeeze the most living space out of a lot size.
—Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for superficial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superficial
Adjective
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The proposal includes a tennis center with multi-surface courts, hotels, water polo facilities, retail, a wellness center and stadium to host soccer matches.—
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When Mars grew cold, the surface water went away, much of it forming sub-surface ice and frozen brines.—
Adjective
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The iceberg sat in the shallow water of the Weddell Sea in the Southern Ocean for more than 30 years before breaking free in 2020 and into an ocean whirlpool for several months.—
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Back in the resort, families naturally gravitated toward its main, multi-level pool, which features ample shallow areas for tiny swimmers and rentable cabanas that serve as the perfect respite from the sun.—
Cite this Entry
“Superficial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superficial. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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