Synonyms of facile

facile

adjective

ˈfa-səl 

1

as in superficial

having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character

the movie takes a facile look at what happens when teens enter into serious romantic relationships

Synonyms & Similar Words

• superficial
• shallow
• one-dimensional
• cursory
• skin-deep
• hasty
• limited
• random
• sketchy
• passing
• narrow
• oversimple
• haphazard
• aimless
• desultory
• restricted
• hit-or-miss

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• profound
• deep
• general
• broad
• extensive
• penetrating
• complete
• hard
• definitive
• wide
• comprehensive
• exhaustive
• discerning
• detailed
• inclusive
• global
• critical
• penetrant
• far-reaching
• in-depth

2

as in easy

involving minimal difficulty or effort

a few early facile victories misled the country into thinking that the war would be short and relatively painless

Synonyms & Similar Words

• easy
• simple
• smooth
• cheap
• ready
• quick
• effortless
• straightforward
• painless
• fluent
• snap
• fluid
• light
• soft
• royal
• downhill
• uncomplicated
• obvious
• mindless
• hands-down
• unchallenging
• unambiguous
• apparent
• clear
• evident
• transparent
• clear-cut
• plain
• unequivocal
• distinct
• manifest
• unmistakable
• idiotproof
• open-and-shut
• perspicuous
• palpable
• patent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• difficult
• hard
• severe
• formidable
• laborious
• arduous
• strenuous
• tough
• exacting
• stiff
• rough
• killer
• demanding
• murderous
• toilsome
• herculean
• grueling
• painful
• troublesome
• labored
• onerous
• complex
• burdensome
• oppressive
• exhausting
• gruelling
• stressful
• complicated
• intricate
• problematic
• recondite
• abstruse
• toilful
• problematical
• involved
• taxing
• knotty

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective facile contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of facile are easy, effortless, light, simple, and smooth. While all these words mean "not demanding effort or involving difficulty," facile often adds to easy the connotation of undue haste or shallowness.

facile answers to complex questions

When might easy be a better fit than facile?

The words easy and facile can be used in similar contexts, but easy is applicable either to persons or things imposing tasks or to activity required by such tasks.

an easy college course

When is it sensible to use effortless instead of facile?

While the synonyms effortless and facile are close in meaning, effortless stresses the appearance of ease and usually implies the prior attainment of artistry or expertness.

moving with effortless grace

When is light a more appropriate choice than facile?

The synonyms light and facile are sometimes interchangeable, but light stresses freedom from what is burdensome.

a light teaching load

Where would simple be a reasonable alternative to facile?

The meanings of simple and facile largely overlap; however, simple stresses ease in understanding or dealing with because complication is absent.

a simple problem in arithmetic

When would smooth be a good substitute for facile?

In some situations, the words smooth and facile are roughly equivalent. However, smooth stresses the absence or removal of all difficulties, hardships, or obstacles.

a smooth ride

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of facile

Demonizing the delta smelt was — and is — a way to make facile points to uninformed voters by suggesting that the interests of what appears to be an unimportant fish are somehow elevated above those of human residents. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025

Coppola’s emphasis on white protagonist Cesar is, in Hollywood liberal terms, facile and archaic. —Armond White, National Review, 4 Oct. 2024

The benefit of all of this, of course, is a shift toward recognizing, at least in the zeitgeist, the seemingly facile truth: that moms have identities and desires beyond being moms. —Cady Lang, TIME, 24 May 2024

The commentary on social media is mostly facile, although a humiliating trick played on Nikki is devilishly funny and some of the flashback-recap sequences make zippy use of online video. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2024

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