What Is the Difference Between cursory,superficial, and shallow?
Cursory and its synonyms superficial and shallow all mean "lacking in depth or care"—but these words are not used in exactly the same way in all cases. Cursory, which comes from the Latin verb currere ("to run"), implies speed and stresses a lack of attention to detail. While cursory suggests a lack of thoroughness, superficial implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features. An analysis of a problem might be labeled "superficial" if it considers only the obvious and fails to dig deeper into the issue. Shallow is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character, as in "insensitive and shallow comments."
superficial implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features.
a superficial analysis of the problem
shallow is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character.
a light, shallow, and frivolous review
cursory suggests a lack of thoroughness or a neglect of details.
gave the letter only a cursory reading
Example Sentences
Only a cursory inspection of the building's electrical wiring was done. The mayor gave a cursory glance at the report. Even the most cursory look at the organization's records shows problems.
Recent Examples on the WebSome characters don’t even get a cursory introduction. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 This is of a piece with the Owenses’ apparent attitude toward Africans, as evidenced by eyewitnesses and even a cursory reading of their own writing. Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic, 11 July 2022 But the firm’s investigators were only allowed to do a cursory examination of machinery, the person said, and Binnall’s efforts to compel access to additional equipment were rejected by the judge in the case. Amy Gardner, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 But the firm’s investigators were only allowed to do a cursory examination of machinery, the person said, and Binnall’s efforts to compel access to additional equipment were rejected by the judge in the case.Anchorage Daily News, 15 Aug. 2022 Identifying the favorites in college football for the upcoming 2022 campaign is easy with just a cursory glance at the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches poll. Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2022 This goes on all time, as even a cursory glance at cryptocurrency news feeds will confirm. David G.w. Birch, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Unfortunately, the film only takes a cursory, superficial glance at this societal malady, as if a deeper dive would harshen the mellow of its romantic comedy. Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2022 More than 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists concur that anthropogenic temperature change is a reality, and challenges to that claim, while abundant, never stand up to even cursory examination. Nick Scott, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Medieval Latin cursōrius "of running, swift" (Late Latin in nominal derivatives, as cursōria "shoe for running"), adjectival derivative of Latin cursor "runner" — more at cursor