Superficial
adjective
Appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely.
They made a superficial analysis of the market trends.
Often appears as...
- superficial examination
- superficial layer
adjective
Not having or showing any depth of character or understanding.
Her superficial charm soon wore off.
Often appears as...
- superficial charm
- superficial attractions
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Existing or occurring at or on the surface.
The building suffered only superficial damage.
Often appears as...
- superficial wound
- superficial changes
adjective
Of, affecting, or being on or near the surface.
Superficial wounds heal more quickly.
Often appears as...
- superficial burn
- superficial wound
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely.
They made a superficial analysis of the market trends.
Often appears as...
- superficial examination
- superficial layer
adjective
Not having or showing any depth of character or understanding.
Her superficial charm soon wore off.
Often appears as...
- superficial charm
- superficial attractions
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Existing or occurring at or on the surface.
The building suffered only superficial damage.
Often appears as...
- superficial wound
- superficial changes
adjective
Of, affecting, or being on or near the surface.
Superficial wounds heal more quickly.
Often appears as...
- superficial burn
- superficial wound
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Closer Look
Use 'superficial' when something appears simple but has more complexity underneath.
Despite its superficial simplicity, the poem has deep themes.
Pro Tip 2/3Initial Impressions
Describe an initial understanding that may change with further insight.
At first glance, the problem seems superficial, but it's quite involved.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Assumptions
Be cautious not to assume depth based on superficial details alone.
They conducted a superficial review, missing the hidden issues.
Pro Tip 1/3Closer Look
Use 'superficial' when something appears simple but has more complexity underneath.
Despite its superficial simplicity, the poem has deep themes.
Pro Tip 2/3Initial Impressions
Describe an initial understanding that may change with further insight.
At first glance, the problem seems superficial, but it's quite involved.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Assumptions
Be cautious not to assume depth based on superficial details alone.
They conducted a superficial review, missing the hidden issues.
Pro Tip 1/3Closer Look
Use 'superficial' when something appears simple but has more complexity underneath.
Despite its superficial simplicity, the poem has deep themes.
Pro Tip 2/3Initial Impressions
Describe an initial understanding that may change with further insight.
At first glance, the problem seems superficial, but it's quite involved.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Assumptions
Be cautious not to assume depth based on superficial details alone.
They conducted a superficial review, missing the hidden issues.
Never forget "Superficial"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Strange answers to the...
It's on the cunning, manipulative. So, faking your brain going wrong is evidence that your brain has gone wrong. And I spoke to other experts, and they said the pinstripe suit -- classic psychopath -- speaks to items one and two on the glibness, superficial charm and grandiose sense of self-worth.
Video examples
How I hacked online...
So I said fine, I've got a new plan. I'm going to keep using these online dating sites, but I'm going to treat them as databases, and rather than waiting for an algorithm to set me up, I think I'm going to try reverse-engineering this entire system. So knowing that there was superficial data
Video examples
Animation basics: The...
a pendulum. Animation is a time-based art form. It may incorporate the aesthetic elements of other graphic arts, like illustration or painting, but what sets animation apart is that, here, what you see is less important that what you don't see. An object's superficial appearance
Video examples
The surprising science...
I don't know what good it did, but he recommended that book to them, and after that the term "alpha male" became very popular. But I think it is used in a mischaracterization. It's used in a very superficial way that doesn't relate to what a real alpha male is.
Video examples
The freakonomics of...
had such a profound influence on inner-city gangs. Secondly, I want to tell you how somebody like me came to be able to see the inner workings of a gang -- an interesting story, I think. And then third, I want to tell you, in a very superficial way,
Video examples
The brain may be able to...
The adult brain has stem cells, but they're very rare and they're located in deep and small niches in the depths of the brain. So it was surprising to get this kind of stem cell culture from the superficial part of swollen brain we had
Video examples
Looks aren't everything....
Image is powerful, but also, image is superficial. I just totally transformed what you thought of me, in six seconds. And in this picture, I had actually never had a boyfriend in real life. I was totally uncomfortable,
Video examples
Reframing Black History...
your job i think is to find a way to join with that person so that they can give you something that's deeper than the superficial and my the one way that i find that gets to that place is when they
Video examples
Cheetah Cub Attacked By...
this is a superficial but this has caused a lot of problem and then this puncture here somewhere on the dorsal side of it base of the tail and then the bite at the base of the tail has
Video examples
Fighting war and...
fluffy sweet superficial and just like cotton candy too much of it can leave a very bad pain in your stomach I live in a world of chaos where dream and reality
Video examples
Strange answers to the...
It's on the cunning, manipulative. So, faking your brain going wrong is evidence that your brain has gone wrong. And I spoke to other experts, and they said the pinstripe suit -- classic psychopath -- speaks to items one and two on the glibness, superficial charm and grandiose sense of self-worth.
Video examples
How I hacked online...
So I said fine, I've got a new plan. I'm going to keep using these online dating sites, but I'm going to treat them as databases, and rather than waiting for an algorithm to set me up, I think I'm going to try reverse-engineering this entire system. So knowing that there was superficial data
Video examples
Animation basics: The...
a pendulum. Animation is a time-based art form. It may incorporate the aesthetic elements of other graphic arts, like illustration or painting, but what sets animation apart is that, here, what you see is less important that what you don't see. An object's superficial appearance
Video examples
The surprising science...
I don't know what good it did, but he recommended that book to them, and after that the term "alpha male" became very popular. But I think it is used in a mischaracterization. It's used in a very superficial way that doesn't relate to what a real alpha male is.
Video examples
The freakonomics of...
had such a profound influence on inner-city gangs. Secondly, I want to tell you how somebody like me came to be able to see the inner workings of a gang -- an interesting story, I think. And then third, I want to tell you, in a very superficial way,
Video examples
The brain may be able to...
The adult brain has stem cells, but they're very rare and they're located in deep and small niches in the depths of the brain. So it was surprising to get this kind of stem cell culture from the superficial part of swollen brain we had
Video examples
Looks aren't everything....
Image is powerful, but also, image is superficial. I just totally transformed what you thought of me, in six seconds. And in this picture, I had actually never had a boyfriend in real life. I was totally uncomfortable,
Video examples
Reframing Black History...
your job i think is to find a way to join with that person so that they can give you something that's deeper than the superficial and my the one way that i find that gets to that place is when they
Video examples
Cheetah Cub Attacked By...
this is a superficial but this has caused a lot of problem and then this puncture here somewhere on the dorsal side of it base of the tail and then the bite at the base of the tail has
Video examples
Fighting war and...
fluffy sweet superficial and just like cotton candy too much of it can leave a very bad pain in your stomach I live in a world of chaos where dream and reality
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
George R. R. Martin
American Author
I try to make the readers feel they've lived the events of the book. Just as you grieve if a friend is killed, you should grieve if a fictional character is killed. You should care. If somebody dies and you just go get more popcorn, it's a superficial experience isn't it?
Quote examples
Anne Frank
German Writer
My lighter, more superficial side will always steal a march on the deeper side and therefore always win. You can't imagine how often I've tried to push away this Anne, which is only half of what is known as Anne - to beat her down, hide her.
Quote examples
Paulo Coelho
Brazilian Novelist
Physical elegance, which is what I am talking about here, comes from the body. This is no superficial matter, but rather the way that man found to honour the way he places his two feet on the ground.
Quote examples
Guy Debord
French Writer
As specialists of apparent life, stars serve as superficial objects that people can identify with in order to compensate for the fragmented productive specialisations that they actually live.
Quote examples
Wolfgang Tillmans
German Photographer
There is this looking at the world as shapes and patterns and colors that have meaning, and you can't deny the superficial because the superficial is what meets the eye.
Quote examples
Yolanda Hadid
American Model
It's hard for me to be involved in superficial friendships with other women.
Quote examples
John Caudwell
English Businessman
People are much more important than superficial environments.
Quote examples
Fabio Lanzoni
Italian Actor
I'm a deep person. I'm not a superficial person at all.
Quote examples
Ava Gardner
American Actress
Deep down, I'm pretty superficial.
Quote examples
Andy Warhol
American Artist
I am a deeply superficial person.
Quote examples
George R. R. Martin
American Author
I try to make the readers feel they've lived the events of the book. Just as you grieve if a friend is killed, you should grieve if a fictional character is killed. You should care. If somebody dies and you just go get more popcorn, it's a superficial experience isn't it?
Quote examples
Anne Frank
German Writer
My lighter, more superficial side will always steal a march on the deeper side and therefore always win. You can't imagine how often I've tried to push away this Anne, which is only half of what is known as Anne - to beat her down, hide her.
Quote examples
Paulo Coelho
Brazilian Novelist
Physical elegance, which is what I am talking about here, comes from the body. This is no superficial matter, but rather the way that man found to honour the way he places his two feet on the ground.
Quote examples
Guy Debord
French Writer
As specialists of apparent life, stars serve as superficial objects that people can identify with in order to compensate for the fragmented productive specialisations that they actually live.
Quote examples
Wolfgang Tillmans
German Photographer
There is this looking at the world as shapes and patterns and colors that have meaning, and you can't deny the superficial because the superficial is what meets the eye.
Quote examples
Yolanda Hadid
American Model
It's hard for me to be involved in superficial friendships with other women.
Quote examples
John Caudwell
English Businessman
People are much more important than superficial environments.
Quote examples
Fabio Lanzoni
Italian Actor
I'm a deep person. I'm not a superficial person at all.
Quote examples
Ava Gardner
American Actress
Deep down, I'm pretty superficial.
Quote examples
Andy Warhol
American Artist
I am a deeply superficial person.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension