1
as in minimally
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2
as in imperfectly
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Recent Examples of superficially
The lead manufacturer of PDGF has cautioned that injecting PDGF too superficially at high concentrations or in delicate areas may potentially cause localized collagen nodules, transient swelling, or discoloration.
—
Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The placid romance of Hareton and young Catherine leaves us, superficially, in a peaceful, even hopeful place.
—Radhika Jones, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
Competition cannot be superficially manufactured, and both the causes of and solutions to its recent decline are complex.
—Charlie Hunt, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Competition cannot be superficially manufactured, and both the causes of and solutions to its recent decline are complex.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2026
Yet after gesturing toward a promising thriller setup, the film soon begins to spin its wheels — doing little to complicate or tighten the melodrama, while only superficially probing its two principal characters as their romance is inevitably reignited.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Because while those numbers at least superficially suggest waking up the echoes of those dynamic days, the anticipated hiring comes when the Chiefs seem stranded in the past and more in need of fresh approaches than turning back the clock.
—Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
The Thunder won the NBA title last year, and superficially, the team’s rise to the top validates NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ’s strategy to value parity over dynasties.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
Even as large language models such as ChatGPT superficially replicate ordinary speech, researchers want to know if there are specific aspects of human language that simply have no parallels in the communication systems of other animals or artificially intelligent devices.
—Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 31 Oct. 2025
Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The placid romance of Hareton and young Catherine leaves us, superficially, in a peaceful, even hopeful place.
—Radhika Jones, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
Competition cannot be superficially manufactured, and both the causes of and solutions to its recent decline are complex.
—Charlie Hunt, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Competition cannot be superficially manufactured, and both the causes of and solutions to its recent decline are complex.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2026
Yet after gesturing toward a promising thriller setup, the film soon begins to spin its wheels — doing little to complicate or tighten the melodrama, while only superficially probing its two principal characters as their romance is inevitably reignited.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Because while those numbers at least superficially suggest waking up the echoes of those dynamic days, the anticipated hiring comes when the Chiefs seem stranded in the past and more in need of fresh approaches than turning back the clock.
—Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 2026
The Thunder won the NBA title last year, and superficially, the team’s rise to the top validates NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ’s strategy to value parity over dynasties.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
Even as large language models such as ChatGPT superficially replicate ordinary speech, researchers want to know if there are specific aspects of human language that simply have no parallels in the communication systems of other animals or artificially intelligent devices.
—Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superficially
Adverb
-
In an email to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the restaurant’s general manager, Ashton Loyd, said the scallops are sourced from Hokkaido, Japan, and are minimally seasoned to allow their natural flavor to shine.—
Henri Hollis,
AJC.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Rotator cuff repairs are typically done arthroscopically, a minimally invasive surgery that involves using a camera and small instruments through tiny incisions to repair problems with the shoulder joint.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
They can be done imperfectly without being done disastrously.—
Leslie John,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
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Yet, like Bessette’s relationship with the Kennedy family scion, her eternity band is shrouded in mystery—imperfectly recorded through rumors, second-hand accounts, and myths invented by the press and populace.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Midway through the third quarter, Ralston Valley pushed the ball in transition with the Jaguars falling slightly out of control.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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Overall sentiment only declined slightly in March, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment, but the survey was only half completed when the attack was launched on Iran.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Previous administrations, by contrast, used tariffs more sparingly to narrowly protect specific industries.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
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Jones narrowly lost his bid, 20-17, to remove the Fontainebleau provision from the bill before his chamber passed it.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Gas prices did come down from their $5-a-gallon peak in June 2022, but experts say the G7 oil release helped only marginally.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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That means less space for comedies, dramas and unscripted shows, which could squeeze some marginally performing series out.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Fueling your body inadequately will leave you feeling dissatisfied and undernourished.—
Jamie Johnson,
Verywell Health,
27 Feb. 2026
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Issues such as menopause and perimenopause, endometriosis and Alzheimer’s disease — conditions that exclusively or disproportionately affect women — remain inadequately studied.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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But Cockrum raced down the court for a layup, barely beating the buzzer to cut the lead to 19-16 entering the final quarter.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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None of the first, and barely the second!—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Screen or email apnea happens when someone unconsciously holds their breath or breathes more shallowly while looking at their screen to answer emails or texts, explained Dora Kamau, lead mindfulness and meditation teacher at Headspace.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
23 Feb. 2026
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Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder in which people briefly stop breathing or breath very shallowly during sleep, multiple times per hour.—
Becky Upham,
EverydayHealth.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Superficially.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superficially. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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