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Facile vs Profound - What's the difference?

facile | profound |

As adjectives the difference between facile and profound

is that facile is easy, now especially in a disparaging sense; contemptibly easy while profound is descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.

As a noun profound is

(obsolete) the deep; the sea; the ocean.

As a verb profound is

(obsolete) to cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.

facile

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Easy, now especially in a disparaging sense; contemptibly easy.
  • * , vol.I, New York, 2001, p.243:
    • as he that is benumbed with cold sits shaking, that might relieve himself with a little exercise or stirring, do they complain, but will not use the facile and ready means to do themselves good […].
    • His facile disposition made him many friends.
  • Effortless, fluent (of work, abilities etc.).
  • * 1932 , (Duff Cooper), Talleyrand , Folio Society 2010, p. 54:
    • we can learn the impression that he made upon a stranger and a foreigner at this period, thanks to the facile pen of Fannu Burney.
  • * 1974 , (Graham Greene), (The Honorary Consul) , Pocket Books, New York, p.54:
    • "Discipline," Jorge Julio Saavedra was repeating, "is more necessary to me than to other more facile writers.
  • * 1990 , (Peter Hopkirk), The Great Game , Folio Society 2010, p. 372:
    • A facile and persuasive writer, he also turned out countless newspaper articles on Russian aims in Central Asia and how best these could be thwarted.
  • Lazy, simplistic (especially of explanations, discussions etc.).
  • * 2012 , (Chris Huhne), The Guardian , 3 May 2012:
    • There is a facile view that our green commitments – to tackling climate change, avoiding air and water pollution, protecting natural habitats – are an obstacle to growth. The message of the commodity markets is surely different.
  • (chemistry) Of a reaction or other process, taking place readily.
    • Decarboxylation of beta-keto acids is facile ...

    Synonyms

    * (skillful) See also

    Related terms

    * facilitation * facilitative * facilitate * facilitator * facilitatory * facility

    External links

    * * * ----

    profound

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.
  • * (rfdate),
    • A gulf profound
  • Very deep; very serious
  • Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.
  • *
  • Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a profound sleep.
  • * (rfdate),
    • Profound sciatica
  • * (rfdate),
    • Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.
  • Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow.
  • * (rfdate)
    • What humble gestures! What profound reverence!

    Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) The deep; the sea; the ocean.
    • God in the fathomless profound / Hath all this choice commanders drowned. Sandys .
  • (obsolete) An abyss.
    • (Milton)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.
    • (Sir Thomas Browne)
  • (obsolete) To dive deeply; to penetrate.

    • Related terms

    * profundity * profoundness ----