superficiality
noun
su·per·fi·ci·al·i·ty
ˌsü-pər-ˌfi-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 
plural superficialities
1
: the quality or state of being superficial
2
: something superficial
Examples of superficiality in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Within this supportive environment, members cultivate relationships that go beyond the superficiality often associated with elite groups.
—
Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
Meredith’s flaws are intriguingly feminized: vanity; superficiality; a changeable, untrustworthy softness.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2024
Artistic and emotional achievements such as John Wick 4, Rebel Moon, All of Us Strangers, The Taste of Things, and Asteroid City lose out to the superficiality of Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and The Zone of Interest and the inscrutable nothingness of Barbie and Poor Things.
—Armond White, National Review, 19 Jan. 2024
Ives transposes the action to an America of rampant affluence and ghastly superficiality, populated by boorish Wall Street titans (Cannavale) and shady plastic surgeons (Shamos) and drug-dealing diplomats (Pasquale) and tightly wound Hollywood agents (Gray).
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023
When billionaire’s wife, Marianne Brink (a sublime Rachel Bay Jones), sings a soaring ode to the joys of superficiality, Sondheim breezes into the room at full force.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2023
In 10 years, Scott’s Moschino runways riffed on the subject of Barbie (a full decade before Barbie-core took over), paper dolls (a playful dig at the superficiality of the fashion business), cardboard (in an apparent critique of overconsumption), and money.
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2023
Don’t fall into his trap of superficiality and pity.
—Scott Johnson, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 July 2023
When does multiplicity shade into duplicity or superficiality?
—Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2023
Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024
Meredith’s flaws are intriguingly feminized: vanity; superficiality; a changeable, untrustworthy softness.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2024
Artistic and emotional achievements such as John Wick 4, Rebel Moon, All of Us Strangers, The Taste of Things, and Asteroid City lose out to the superficiality of Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, and The Zone of Interest and the inscrutable nothingness of Barbie and Poor Things.
—Armond White, National Review, 19 Jan. 2024
Ives transposes the action to an America of rampant affluence and ghastly superficiality, populated by boorish Wall Street titans (Cannavale) and shady plastic surgeons (Shamos) and drug-dealing diplomats (Pasquale) and tightly wound Hollywood agents (Gray).
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023
When billionaire’s wife, Marianne Brink (a sublime Rachel Bay Jones), sings a soaring ode to the joys of superficiality, Sondheim breezes into the room at full force.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2023
In 10 years, Scott’s Moschino runways riffed on the subject of Barbie (a full decade before Barbie-core took over), paper dolls (a playful dig at the superficiality of the fashion business), cardboard (in an apparent critique of overconsumption), and money.
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2023
Don’t fall into his trap of superficiality and pity.
—Scott Johnson, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 July 2023
When does multiplicity shade into duplicity or superficiality?
—Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'superficiality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near superficiality
Cite this Entry
“Superficiality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superficiality. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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