Synonyms of cursory

cursory

adjective

ˈkərs-rē 

as in hurried

acting or done with excessive or careless speed

your essays require more than a cursory effort at proofreading

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hurried
• rushed
• hasty
• drive-by
• rash
• quick
• sudden
• impulsive
• makeshift
• headlong
• reckless
• overhasty
• rapid
• precipitous
• swift
• precipitate
• flying
• spontaneous
• abrupt
• helter-skelter
• impromptu
• gadarene
• pell-mell
• rush
• breathtaking
• slapdash
• speedy
• impatient
• impetuous
• offhand
• heady
• spur-of-the-moment
• madcap
• unadvised
• snap
• breakneck
• off-the-cuff
• hotheaded
• offhanded
• headstrong
• horseback

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliberate
• unhurried
• unrushed
• circumspect
• calculated
• measured
• calculating
• prolonged
• tentative
• long-term
• extended
• foresighted
• hesitant
• leisurely
• slow
• faltering
• forethoughtful
• hesitating
• drawn-out
• pokey
• poky
• laggard
• dallying
• dawdling
• shilly-shallying

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

Recent Examples of cursory

Instead, the board was limited to a cursory review of 13th Floor’s plan, in partnership with Italy’s Cipriani family, to replace the historic structures with an ultra-luxury, 17-story Casa Cipriani condo, hotel and private club. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025

That review can be cursory (does your tax return match the data that the IRS has on file?) or a bit more sophisticated (does your tax return make sense based on other data, like your historic filing patterns?). —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Speaking at the White House last week, Mr. Musk asserted without providing evidence that a cursory examination of the Social Security Administration found that people listed in its systems as being 150 years old were receiving benefits. —Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025

Since 2001, the net effect of the state-building mission in Afghanistan has been the emergence of a strong Afghan army and a weak Afghan state, creating an imbalance that should worry anyone with a cursory knowledge of history or political theory. —Paul D. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2014

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