superficiality
Lack of depth
Superficiality is the quality of being shallow or concerned only with surface appearances.
It suggests a lack of depth—in thought, character, or engagement: The superficiality of their analysis disappointed everyone.
The word often carries judgment, implying someone or something fails to go beyond what's obvious or easy: She was put off by the superficiality of cocktail party conversation.
Frivolous lack of seriousness
- trivialityUnimportant small matter
- levityLack of seriousness
- vapidityLack of liveliness or flavor
- shallownessLack of depth
emptiness · airiness · lightness · frothiness · fluff · banality · inanity · meaninglessness
Decorative outer layer
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- glossShine or annotation
- polishSmooth by rubbing
- sheenSoft surface luster
patina · cosmetic · exterior · outward · image · presentation · finish · varnish
Absurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- affectationArtificial behavior for effect
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- insincerityLack of genuine feeling
fakery · artifice · sham · pretension · feigning · phoniness · hollowness · put-on
Hasty and incomplete
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
- shallowWithout much depth
- trivialLacking significance or weight
- fleetingPassing very quickly
one-dimensional · insubstantial · lightweight · depthless · glib · facile · simplistic · hasty
flippancy
Frivolous lack of seriousness
- trivialityUnimportant small matter
- levityLack of seriousness
- vapidityLack of liveliness or flavor
shallowness · emptiness · airiness · lightness · frothiness · fluff · banality · inanity · meaninglessness · vacuousness
veneer
Decorative outer layer
sheen · patina · cosmetic · exterior · outward · image · presentation · finish · varnish · glaze
charade
Absurd or obvious pretense
- masqueradeDeceptive act or costume party
- affectationArtificial behavior for effect
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
insincerity · fakery · artifice · sham · pretension · feigning · phoniness · hollowness · put-on · hypocrisy
cursory
Hasty and incomplete
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
- shallowWithout much depth
- trivialLacking significance or weight
fleeting · one-dimensional · insubstantial · lightweight · depthless · glib · facile · simplistic · hasty · passing
- turn-offsick, red flag, red flags, dealbreaker, dealbreakers
- vanityconceit, narcissism, ego, self-admiration, self-love
- superficialityshallowness, hollowness, emptiness, skin deep, insubstantiality
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- foolishnessfoolishness, silliness, foolish, stupid, folly
- wealthriches, wealth, fortune, affluence, prosperity
superficialitydepth
Distance below surface
profundity · profoundness · thoroughness · penetration · perceptiveness
superficialityseriousness
Earnest, weighty demeanor
gravity · gravitas · substance · solemnity · earnestness
superficialitygenuineness
Quality of being real
authenticity · substance · depth · sincerity · realness