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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
-
Although childish and superficial, his renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War doesn’t telegraph a love of peace.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The Japanese capital is a global leader in wellness innovation, where spas prioritize holistic health over superficial beauty, utilizing cutting-edge, non-invasive therapies.—
Terry Elward,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Summarizing decades of comics history is no easy task but the team pulls it off well here.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Transforming Amazon into a startup-like environment isn’t an easy task.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These mums feature small flowers that grow in a dome shape and have stolons, or shallow runners, at their base.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
O’Steen bludgeoned Marissa Grimes, dug a shallow grave for her under his house in west Fort Worth and for 10 days lived above where police later sawed open the floor to expose Grimes’ decomposing 135-pound body, prosecutors have argued that the evidence shows.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Their simple plan goes awry when one of their relatives wants a posh Korean wedding banquet in the heartfelt romantic comedy.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The inspiration The Copleys wanted a low-water garden that would be simple to care for.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The trio, working in tandem with a blend of 30 essential oils and extracts, comes together to condition hair follicles, relieve dry scalp, smooth split ends, and enhance hair elasticity.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The smooth leather finish gives a polished look that can easily be dressed up or down.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Here, the median sale price of a home is about $137,000—one of the cheapest price tags in the country.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Health insurers plan to raise rates, pointing to rising health care costs, tariffs on prescription drugs and medical device imports, and the possible expiration of premium tax credits instituted during former President Joe Biden's administration that made plans cheaper.—
Sarah Volpenhein,
jsonline.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Facile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/facile. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share