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Superficial vs Contradictory - What's the difference?

superficial | contradictory |

As adjectives the difference between superficial and contradictory

is that superficial is shallow, lacking substance while contradictory is that contradicts something, such as an argument.

As nouns the difference between superficial and contradictory

is that superficial is (chiefly in plural) a surface detail while contradictory is (logic) any of a pair of propositions, that cannot both be true or both be false.

superficial

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Shallow, lacking substance.
  • At face value.
  • *
  • Secondly, I continue to base my concepts on intensive study of a limited suite of collections, rather than superficial study of every packet that comes to hand.
  • Of or pertaining to the surface.
  • Being near the surface.
  • (rare) Two-dimensional; drawn on a flat surface.
  • Synonyms

    * (of or pertaining to the surface) surficial

    Antonyms

    * in-depth * thorough * (lacking substance) substantive

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (chiefly in plural) A surface detail.
  • He always concentrates on the superficials and fails to see the real issue.

    contradictory

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • That contradicts something, such as an argument.
  • That is itself a contradiction.
  • That is diametrically opposed to something.
  • * Addison
  • Schemes contradictory to common sense.
  • Mutually exclusive.
  • Tending to contradict or oppose, contrarious.
  • Derived terms

    * contradictorily * contradictoriness

    Synonyms

    * opposite * (mutually exclusive ) incompatible

    Noun

    (contradictories)
  • (logic) Any of a pair of propositions, that cannot both be true or both be false.
  • *
  • Hyponyms

    * negation

    See also

    * oxymoron * paradox