Definition of cursorynext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective cursory contrast with its synonyms?

The words shallow and superficial are common synonyms of cursory. While all three words mean "lacking in depth or solidity," cursory suggests a lack of thoroughness or a neglect of details.

gave the letter only a cursory reading

When would shallow be a good substitute for cursory?

The words shallow and cursory can be used in similar contexts, but shallow is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character.

a light, shallow, and frivolous review

When is it sensible to use superficial instead of cursory?

The synonyms superficial and cursory are sometimes interchangeable, but superficial implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features.

a superficial analysis of the problem

Example 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 cursory Miami had cursory contact with Samuel’s representation but never strongly pursued him or invited him for a visit. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025 Yet, despite the importance of this issue, boards can sometimes sidestep discussions or provide only cursory oversight of the CEO succession process. Harry Kraemer, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 Some cursory research warned me of the dangers of blossom end rot and regular rot—two common conundrums when cultivating vining plants that grow on the ground. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2025 Important plot points that could mean something are paid off in the most cursory fashion. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cursory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cursory
Adjective
  • Facing a schedule filled with hurried days, countless steps, and occasions that require outfits equal parts practical and chic?
    Nina Derwin, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Niccol has espoused the hopes of returning Starbucks to a cozy third space, away from the image of being a hurried pitstop to pick up a morning espresso, and toward 1990s nostalgia of lingering over a latte.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • The rushed start wasn’t the only hiccup.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
  • The national bill – passed on the final day of parliament last year – was criticized at the time as a rushed piece of legislation conceived to win votes before the 2025 election.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • According to reporting from El Dorado Hills community publication Village Life in 2023, Loewen’s hasty exit came months after El Dorado Hills residents voiced concerns over possible ethics and contract violations.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Chief among the clues police have recovered at the scene of Sunday's sensational crime at one of the world's most famous museums are traces of DNA found on items the thieves left behind in their hasty motorbike getaway.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Mahmoud Haqiqat, commander of the police station in Iranshahr, Iran, was assassinated in a drive-by shooting, who recorded the event and posted it online.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Redundancy meets autonomy scale Safety is built around full drive-by-wire redundancy.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Common measles symptoms include a blotchy rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, pink or watery eyes and white spots on the insides of the cheeks.
    Aria Bendix, NBC news, 30 Dec. 2025
  • Symptoms include fever, rash, cough, red or watery eyes, and a runny nose.
    Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • As Beck spoke on the crowded field afterward, Cristobal swept past and stopped for quick bear hug.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Most people drive up a Forest Service Road for quicker access, putting them at the beginning of a two-mile out-and-back trail with roughly 2,500 feet of elevation gain.
    Outside, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The engine, freed from its hook by a sudden hard, precise kick, quickly sank into the river, pulling the cord tight and dragging the foreman underwater.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead of impulsive moves, energy goes toward goals that require patience and endurance.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
  • That fear can contribute to impulsive decisions, overtrading, and emotional fatigue - outcomes sometimes interpreted as personal failure rather than a response to the way risk is structured.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cursory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cursory. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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