Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective facile contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of facile are easy, effortless, light, simple, and smooth. While all these words mean "not demanding effort or involving difficulty," facile often adds to easy the connotation of undue haste or shallowness.

facile answers to complex questions

When might easy be a better fit than facile?

The words easy and facile can be used in similar contexts, but easy is applicable either to persons or things imposing tasks or to activity required by such tasks.

an easy college course

When is it sensible to use effortless instead of facile?

While the synonyms effortless and facile are close in meaning, effortless stresses the appearance of ease and usually implies the prior attainment of artistry or expertness.

moving with effortless grace

When is light a more appropriate choice than facile?

The synonyms light and facile are sometimes interchangeable, but light stresses freedom from what is burdensome.

a light teaching load

Where would simple be a reasonable alternative to facile?

The meanings of simple and facile largely overlap; however, simple stresses ease in understanding or dealing with because complication is absent.

a simple problem in arithmetic

When would smooth be a good substitute for facile?

In some situations, the words smooth and facile are roughly equivalent. However, smooth stresses the absence or removal of all difficulties, hardships, or obstacles.

a smooth ride

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 facile 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 The commentary on social media is mostly facile, although a humiliating trick played on Nikki is devilishly funny and some of the flashback-recap sequences make zippy use of online video. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for facile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for facile
Adjective
  • Garmin also upgrades the superficial hardware in the Forerunner 970.
    Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • Health advocacy organizations say public outreach for this effort, especially to Black Georgians, has been superficial at best.
    Margaret Coker, ProPublica, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • There’s no shortcut to that, and nobody’s been able to come up with an easier, better way to do it, which is why people have stopped doing it.
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 20 May 2025
  • The buttons are easy to press, and the sound quality is good.
    Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • Reaser’s Nora comes off as a shallow woman oblivious of her privilege, which is true but only partly so.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
  • When the ocean is relatively calm and shallow, there is also less plankton, sand, particles, and other materials constantly churning in the waves, which gives the water a clearer appearance.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Style them with a simple tank for a casual day out, or add a blazer and ballet flats for a more polished airport look.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025
  • While rectal cancers can be detected with a simple MRI scan, other cancer types are more difficult.
    Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Twain’s final decades were his Job years, the opposite of quiet and smooth and lovely.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
  • After years of trying to find peace between the humans and monsters in their hometown of Seabrook, Zed and Addison are ready for a smooth summer getaway after their first year of college.
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Tesla troubles: Amid tough year, Tesla releases a new, cheaper version of the Model Y Is the 2025 Tesla Model Y a good SUV to get?
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • Residents near her office at Alhambra Boulevard and Q Street compete to get cheaper parking that doesn’t charge at an hourly rate.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Facile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facile. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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