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 After the match, the two exchanged a cursory handshake with Cirstea barely glancing in Osaka’s direction. Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026 Even a cursory review of the nation’s political violence in recent years makes clear there is plenty of blame to go around. Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025 In between checking in on the new collection’s progress, the film offers a fairly cursory overview of Jacobs’ career to date, beginning with his graduation from New York’s Parsons School of Design in the mid-Eighties. Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for cursory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cursory
Adjective
  • But for some reason the powers that be have decreed artificial intelligence a civilizational imperative, requiring the hurried construction of swarms of data centers, on Earth and in space.
    Mark Gongloff, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
  • Right now, decisions are being made in a hurried, contradictory fashion.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Instead, Mahan and his wealthy Silicon Valley backers talked themselves into a rushed and premature campaign that was never remotely competitive.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • As immigration officers arrested her six weeks ago, through tears and a rushed goodbye, Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez had a request for her daughter.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Western forces have largely beat a hasty retreat from Africa’s coup-prone Sahel region in recent years.
    Kaitlyn Rabe, The Conversation, 16 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, some Jackson County taxing jurisdictions have criticized the county’s tax policies as hasty and damaging.
    Ilana Arougheti June 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • On Thursday, the Interior Department was claiming to have beat back the toxic blooms — while doing a drive-by trashing of Barack Obama to please the boss.
    Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
  • Three other men were injured in the drive-by quintuple shooting.
    Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • Catastrophizing, making rash decisions and hasty cuts and failing to see the situation clearly just exacerbate the issue.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • So unless someone is at high risk for Lyme, the standard advice following a tick bite is to wait and watch for fever, rash or flulike illness over the next 30 days and see a doctor right away if any symptoms appear.
    Kate Wong, Scientific American, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Either way, Aestura’s Atobarrier 365 Ceramide Cream Mist is an easy way to give quick hydration to dry, stressed skin, thanks to an ultrafine spray packed with ceramides.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026
  • From California politics to safety concerns on Sacramento roads, here’s a quick digest of some of the top stories for June 23, 2026.
    Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • From a fatal weekend crash on the I-184 Connector to a sudden summer cooldown, here’s a roundup of top stories the Idaho Statesman has published this week.
    Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 24 June 2026
  • The blockbuster rulings that dominate the news cycle each June are not sudden flashes of judicial willpower.
    The Conversation, The Conversation, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • But the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until a person reaches their mid-to-late 20s, making young people more susceptible to impulsive behavior while gambling.
    Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 18 June 2026
  • The underlying songwriting is impulsive, but many tracks adopt a deliberately sedate mood or sort through dense clusters of cut-up loops, and Alfa’s spatialization gives the album a pallor that can resemble brain fog.
    H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cursory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cursory. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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