1
as in superficial
lying on or affecting only the outer layer of something
fortunately, the cut was only skin-deep
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shallow
having or showing a lack of depth of understanding or character
the book provides some interesting anecdotes but only offers a skin-deep analysis of the events it chronicles
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Recent Examples of skin-deep
Consumers are realizing that beauty isn’t skin-deep.
—
Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
The comparisons were more than skin-deep: the researchers used gravity data to take a peek underground.
—Elise Cutts, Scientific American, 13 May 2025
However, despite some fancy camera work and close-ups, this production only goes skin-deep.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
There, Snow White finds new purpose and fortitude in not only her new friends but also in her journey to find her father after he is dumped by her horrible stepmother, who is only concerned with skin-deep beauty.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skin-deep
Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
The comparisons were more than skin-deep: the researchers used gravity data to take a peek underground.
—Elise Cutts, Scientific American, 13 May 2025
However, despite some fancy camera work and close-ups, this production only goes skin-deep.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
There, Snow White finds new purpose and fortitude in not only her new friends but also in her journey to find her father after he is dumped by her horrible stepmother, who is only concerned with skin-deep beauty.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skin-deep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skin-deep
Adjective
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In her closing argument, Wanzenberg repeatedly noted that Mahdee received more than 40 stab wounds, and Vargas had three superficial cuts on his arm.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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But all the wounds were superficial.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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American beech trees send down a taproot, but after about 25 to 30 years, more shallow roots draw the nutrients, leaving the taproot’s function to be structural rather than nutritional.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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Those thin trigger points are often found near rocks, below cliff bands, or in shallow areas where the snowpack is weaker.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The company’s focus on efficient and autonomous ship manufacturing and mature supply chain enables high volume, low cost delivery of commercial and defense maritime vehicles, in surface and sub-surface environments (currently 95% of commercial ship-building occurs in Asia).—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Mura’s research team suggests that the sub-surface and mantle of Io may be like a sponge, in the sense that it is filled with pores filled with magma.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skin-deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skin-deep. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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