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Superficial vs Sketchy - What's the difference?

superficial | sketchy |

As adjectives the difference between superficial and sketchy

is that superficial is shallow, lacking substance while sketchy is roughly or hastily laid out; intended for later refinement.

As a noun superficial

is (chiefly in plural) a surface detail.

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.

    sketchy

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Roughly or hastily laid out; intended for later refinement.
  • The first draft included a sketchy design.
  • Resembling a comedy sketch, of sketch quality.
  • (slang) Of questionable or doubtful quality.
  • The sketchy repair job did not look like it would hold.
  • (slang, of a person) Suspected of taking part in illicit or dishonorable dealings.
  • Because he is so sketchy , I always think that he is up to something.
  • (slang, of a person) Disturbing or unnerving, often in such a way that others may suspect them of intending physical or sexual harm or harassment.
  • Jack is so sketchy , I think he's stalking me.

    Synonyms

    * dicey * dodgy * seedy * shady

    See also

    * skeezy