Basic Details
Word: Superficial
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Relating to or existing on the surface; not deep or serious.
Synonyms: Surface, shallow, insubstantial
Antonyms: Deep, profound, significant
Idioms and Phrases
- Superficial treatment: A way of dealing with a problem that does not go deep enough. Example: "His superficial treatment of the issue did not solve the underlying problems."
- Superficial charm: A type of charm that is only surface-level and lacks depth. Example: "She was drawn in by his superficial charm but later realised he wasnt genuine."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The painting looked beautiful but was merely a superficial layer over a damaged canvas.
Example 2: During the meeting, her comments were quite superficial and did not address the main concerns.
Example 3: Although the book seemed entertaining, it only provided a superficial understanding of the topic.
Fun Fact
The word "superficial" comes from the Latin word "superficialis," which means "of the surface." It has been used in English since the late 16th century.
Famous Quote
"The more we know, the more we realise we know nothing; and the desire to know often leads to superficiality." - John G. Bennett
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "superficial" mean?
a) Deep and significant
b) Relating to the surface
c) Serious and important
d) Full of substance
Answer: b) Relating to the surface
2. Which of these is a synonym of "superficial"?
a) Profound
b) Significant
c) Shallow
d) Important
Answer: c) Shallow
3. Which of these is an antonym of "superficial"?
a) Surface
b) Deep
c) Surface-level
d) Insignificant
Answer: b) Deep
4. Which sentence uses "superficial" correctly?
a) His thoughts on the matter were very superficial and did not delve into any real ideas.
b) The superficial river flowed through the deep valley.
c) She has a superficial understanding of the science experiment.
d) They had a superficial meal in the restaurant.
Answer: a) His thoughts on the matter were very superficial and did not delve into any real ideas.
5. Which idiom means something related to "superficial"?
a) Superficial charm
b) Crying over spilled milk
c) Let the cat out of the bag
d) A bed of roses
Answer: a) Superficial charm
