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GRE vocabulary

superficial

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore S words

shallow; concerned only with surface appearances

Word origin: From Latin superficies, surface.

In a sentence

Superficial in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing superficial in a sentence.

His knowledge of the subject proved superficial under questioning.

His grasp of the subject proved superficial, sufficient for small talk but not for genuine analysis.

Synonyms
Antonyms
profoundthorough
Usage & nuance

Using “superficial” well

Superficial means shallow, concerned only with surface appearances. It can describe a wound on the surface, a cursory treatment, or a person lacking depth.

Common questions

Questions about “superficial

Superficial (adjective) means shallow; concerned only with surface appearances
Here is superficial used in an example sentence: "His knowledge of the subject proved superficial under questioning." Another example: "His grasp of the subject proved superficial, sufficient for small talk but not for genuine analysis."
Common synonyms for superficial include shallow, cursory, perfunctory.
Antonyms of superficial include profound, thorough.
Clusters with shallow, cursory, and perfunctory in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms profound and thorough mark the opposite, deep pole.
Yes. Superficial is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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