What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Superficial vs Vacuous - What's the difference?

superficial | vacuous |

As adjectives the difference between superficial and vacuous

is that superficial is shallow, lacking substance while vacuous is lacking meaningful content.

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.

    Related terms

    * superfice (archaic) ----

    vacuous

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Lacking meaningful content.
  • Showing a lack of thought or intelligence; vacant

    • Derived terms

    * vacuity (noun) * vacuously (adverb) * vacuousness (noun)