1
as in superficial
having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character
the movie takes a facile look at what happens when teens enter into serious romantic relationships
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in easy
involving minimal difficulty or effort
a few early facile victories misled the country into thinking that the war would be short and relatively painless
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of facile
The pure simplicity of 2-D games like Tecmo Bowl, Pac-Man, and even the raging kitchen fires within The Sims, are relics of a more facile era in gaming.
—
David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Demonizing the delta smelt was — and is — a way to make facile points to uninformed voters by suggesting that the interests of what appears to be an unimportant fish are somehow elevated above those of human residents.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Coppola’s emphasis on white protagonist Cesar is, in Hollywood liberal terms, facile and archaic.
—Armond White, National Review, 4 Oct. 2024
The benefit of all of this, of course, is a shift toward recognizing, at least in the zeitgeist, the seemingly facile truth: that moms have identities and desires beyond being moms.
—Cady Lang, TIME, 24 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for facile
David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Demonizing the delta smelt was — and is — a way to make facile points to uninformed voters by suggesting that the interests of what appears to be an unimportant fish are somehow elevated above those of human residents.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Coppola’s emphasis on white protagonist Cesar is, in Hollywood liberal terms, facile and archaic.
—Armond White, National Review, 4 Oct. 2024
The benefit of all of this, of course, is a shift toward recognizing, at least in the zeitgeist, the seemingly facile truth: that moms have identities and desires beyond being moms.
—Cady Lang, TIME, 24 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for facile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facile
Adjective
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This was all in jest though and while many would object to making homophobia a joke, there didn’t appear to be actual malice behind it, at least from a superficial look.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
28 Oct. 2025
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Denim Halo utilizes Dirsol RD, a new viscosity-modifying and patented pretreatment that enables superficial dyeing.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That being said, some travel essentials stay packed and ready—the gear, gadgets, and go-tos that make every trip that much easier.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
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With Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy back, things have gotten a lot easier for Kelce.—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Roofroomer has managed to squeeze the most out of the shallow space, though, turning the lower floor area into an effective wet bathroom-kitchen.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Oct. 2025
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That the people here are all flash and no substance, all smiles and no sincerity, as photogenic as the Pacific at sunset and as shallow as the Los Angeles River during one of our somehow constant historic droughts.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While House Republicans can pass legislation with a simple majority vote, Senate Republicans cannot advance most matters without meeting a 60-vote threshold.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
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But in stoppage time, Miami was gifted a third goal when Jordi Alba crossed from the left and keeper Willis, colliding with defender Walker Zimmerman, spilled the ball right to Messi, who had the simplest of tap-ins.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The sateen weave strikes the perfect balance for fall—breathable enough to release pesky heat and moisture, yet cozy and smooth enough to snuggle into on cooler nights.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Oct. 2025
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The jersey-stitch construction gives it a smooth drape that layers easily under blazers or jackets.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With the shutdown, people who would've come in to shop are opting to stay home or do something cheaper, according to him.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Oct. 2025
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For decades, candy corn was thought of as a cheap, year-round candy all children could enjoy.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Facile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facile. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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