1
as in minimally
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2
as in imperfectly
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of superficially
In the aftermath of Reconstruction, white-supremacist Democrats imposed superficially race-neutral requirements such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses.
—
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Such lovers can soothe certain wounds in your soul, but only temporarily, only superficially.
—Taiye Selasi, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
The bar was set high from here, but even the best Bond games have only superficially tackled the essence of the spy fantasy.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
Red light at a wavelength of roughly 620–700 nanometers penetrates superficially and targets collagen remodeling and inflammation.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Moreover, the channel emphasizes reports on regional summits, elections, conflicts, and social movements that are generally excluded, marginalized, or only superficially covered by mainstream media.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
The teams are accused of scheduling what amounted to courtesy interviews to superficially comply with the Rooney Rule.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 May 2026
Lucy is very isolated in this superficially tranquil domestic setting, separated from friends, far from her mother, dependent on Philip, and not even entirely fluent in German.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Some outlets noted that the T1 superficially resemble Chinese smartphones.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 May 2026
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Such lovers can soothe certain wounds in your soul, but only temporarily, only superficially.
—Taiye Selasi, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
The bar was set high from here, but even the best Bond games have only superficially tackled the essence of the spy fantasy.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026
Red light at a wavelength of roughly 620–700 nanometers penetrates superficially and targets collagen remodeling and inflammation.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Moreover, the channel emphasizes reports on regional summits, elections, conflicts, and social movements that are generally excluded, marginalized, or only superficially covered by mainstream media.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
The teams are accused of scheduling what amounted to courtesy interviews to superficially comply with the Rooney Rule.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 May 2026
Lucy is very isolated in this superficially tranquil domestic setting, separated from friends, far from her mother, dependent on Philip, and not even entirely fluent in German.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Some outlets noted that the T1 superficially resemble Chinese smartphones.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superficially
Adverb
-
Honey is minimally processed compared to refined white sugar and may offer modest health benefits.—
T'Keyah Bazin,
Verywell Health,
10 June 2026
-
The raw food diet emphasizes eating uncooked and minimally processed foods.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 June 2026
Adverb
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It’s especially imperfectly timed for millennials entering their peak household spending years and beginning to form their own families (or at least try to).—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
-
Hair becomes imperfectly perfect and air-dried, makeup gets lighter and more breathable, and nail appointments tend to prioritize practicality just as much as aesthetics.—
Rebecca Norris,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
Adverb
-
Going slightly lighter in the center and matching your overall skin tone at the outer edges creates a more natural, dimensional result.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
13 June 2026
-
Stray electric and magnetic fields that can slightly disturb electrons have far less influence on the nucleus.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Adverb
-
Pritchard, a longtime teacher and deputy to county supervisors, received significant support in the district’s rural areas and narrowly outperformed Vega in Woodland precincts, county data show.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
-
Surfer Hunter Jones narrowly avoided slamming into the Malibu Pier after bailing from a massive wave earlier this week.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Adverb
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The National Hurricane Center is giving the system a 10% chance of development over the next two to seven days as environmental conditions are forecast to be only marginally conducive for development before the system moves inland over easter Mexico late Saturday or Sunday.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
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That duration is extended because Earth is near perihelion in early January, when the sun appears marginally larger than average.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 June 2026
Adverb
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India’s waste management system relies heavily on informal collectors who remain inadequately compensated, leading to the creation of parallel streams in the waste economy.—
Aman Kumar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 May 2026
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What many patients encounter instead is medical dismissal—a pattern of having symptoms minimized, deprioritized or inadequately investigated.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
12 May 2026
Adverb
-
Villanova would toss the Owls aside by 20 for its 22nd consecutive win against their Philly opponents, a walkover victory that barely moved the needle anywhere outside of the city limits.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Offshore platforms — a chunk of the world's gas — barely show up.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Adverb
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Young and shallowly rooted plants are the most impacted by heat and drought, leaving them vulnerable to diseases and pests.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
-
Avoid watering frequently and shallowly as this will worsen the condition.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superficially.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superficially. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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