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
  • The aesthetic industry, once seen as superficial, is evolving into a crucial branch of the broader longevity movement.
    Lara Devgan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Those families tend to be all alike, regardless of the superficial differences among them.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • The easiest gauge is body composition every two weeks.
    Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
  • Crist emphasized the company’s investment in both cutting-edge tech and easy to use user interfaces.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • Arrange lettuce wedges, rounded side down, on rimmed plates or shallow bowls.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 7 July 2025
  • Much of the waterway is too shallow for vessels with the deep draft required for hauling heavy loads.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • The simplest ideas in mathematics can also be the most perplexing.
    Leila Sloman, Wired News, 29 June 2025
  • This simple, clear shift in communication started to highlight the reality of who was contributing what.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • For detangling, expect the spray to work through knots so all that’s left are smooth strands that are much easier to style.
    Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 8 July 2025
  • And to make every departure and arrival a smooth, stumble-free, and social media–worthy occasion, this throne also swivels 45 degrees—like that of a 1960 Chrysler—to ease ingress and egress.
    Brett Berk, Robb Report, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • With a price tag of $99.99, the half-size bottles weren’t exactly cheap by the ounce—but that didn’t prevent stocks from selling out fast, spurred by excellent word of mouth.
    David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • Shop the Asus Vivobook Go 15.6-Inch FHD Slim Laptop, which is marked down to its cheapest price of the year.
    Clara McMahon, People.com, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Facile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facile. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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