1
as in superficial
lying on or affecting only the outer layer of something fortunately, the cut was only skin-deep

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Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of skin-deep Little touches like these marry the hotel group’s Asian roots to London thoughtfully and beautifully, but beauty here is more than just skin-deep. Laura Ratliff, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2024 But while he's highly regarded as an innovative force in music, Pharrell, 51, is also well known for something more skin-deep: remaining eternally youthful. Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 12 Oct. 2024 Ultimately, Shell’s observations about the beauty industry are only skin-deep. Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Sep. 2024 In a world where beauty is considered skin-deep, Tedi Atanassov's BeautyBorn MedSpa delves deeper, touching the lives of its clients with a personal and professional touch. Molly Peck, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024 Beast mode The Trailblazer's beast-like appearance is more than skin-deep—at over 23 kg (50 lbs), looks are not entirely deceiving. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2024 In this regard, Mody offers little sympathy for India’s secular politicians, whose commitment to liberal ideals was, in his view, skin-deep and who pandered to religious interests in the name of political expediency. Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2023 The skin-deep son not only is supposed to restore the family’s honor but also serves as a good-luck charm for the parents to conceive a male child in the future. Nadia Hashimi, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2015 At the same time, her colors shift the focus away from skin-deep assumptions and toward the interior lives of her subjects. Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skin-deep
Adjective
  • There are beautiful things about being an actor, but there are also some kind of superficial ones.
    Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Consumers today are savvier than ever and can discern between genuine authority and superficial claims.
    Lara Devgan, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • There are series with lazy writing, shallow characters, boring plots and even offensive elements.
    Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The Metro Richmond Zoo shared a video of Poppy taking a splash in a shallow pool with her mom.
    Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Storms are the most common cause of lightning, but lightning strikes have been observed in volcanic eruptions, surface nuclear detonations and during heavy snowstorms even.
    Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 2 Aug. 2024
  • When values fail to align, problems surface, even in organizations committed to developing leaders through coaching.
    Mitch Mitchell, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near skin-deep

Cite this Entry

“Skin-deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skin-deep. Accessed 11 Jan. 2025.

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