Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for on the surface. Search instead for rough surfaces.
Definitions

on the surface

ADJECTIVE
one-dimensional
Synonyms
STRONGEST
peripheral shallow sketchy warped
WEAK
apparent casual cosmetic cursory depthless desultory empty evident exterior external flash flimsy frivolous general glib half-baked hasty hurried ignorant inattentive lightweight nodding ostensible outward partial passing perfunctory quick-fix seeming shoal silly skin-deep slapdash slight smattery summary surface tip of the iceberg trivial uncritical
ADJECTIVE
outward
Synonyms
STRONGEST
apparent noticeable
WEAK
evident exterior external from within observable obvious open ostensible out outer outside over perceptible superficial surface to the eye toward the edge
Antonyms
STRONGEST
obscure
WEAK
invisible inward
ADJECTIVE
skin-deep
Synonyms
WEAK
apparent casual cursory empty flimsy meaningless one-dimensional shallow trivial
ADJECTIVE
superficial
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cursory frivolous one-dimensional perfunctory silly sketchy slight trivial
WEAK
apparent casual cosmetic depthless desultory empty evident exterior external flash flimsy general glib half-baked hasty hurried ignorant inattentive lightweight nodding ostensible outward partial passing peripheral quick-fix seeming shallow shoal skin-deep slapdash smattery summary surface tip of the iceberg uncritical warped
Antonyms
STRONGEST
complete important mature sensible serious significant thoughtful wise
WEAK
analytical careful deep detailed genuine thorough
ADVERB
ostensibly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
evidently officially seemingly supposedly
WEAK
at first blush externally for all intents and purposes for show on the face outwardly professedly sensibly superficially to the eye
Antonyms
WEAK
improbably obscurely unlikely
ADVERB
outwardly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
seemingly superficially
STRONG
externally
WEAK
apparently as far as one can see evidently for all intents and purposes in appearance officially on the face of it ostensibly professedly to the eye
Antonyms
WEAK
inside internally inwardly privately
ADVERB
superficially
Synonyms
STRONGEST
outwardly
WEAK
apparently at first glance carelessly casually externally extraneously flimsily frivolously hastily ignorantly not profoundly not thoroughly once over lightly ostensibly partially skim to the casual eye
Antonyms
WEAK
carefully deeply thoroughly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s a real business need, sure, and it’s not a horrible idea on the surface.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

Folan would often describe her early years of marriage and motherhood, in an idyllic white house in a tawny Connecticut suburb, as looking blissful on the surface.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

"They saw impact flashes on the surface, which means material hitting the surface of the Moon and creating new craters," she said.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

These receptors sit on the surface of cells and help transmit signals that control many processes in the body.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

The glowing embers drifted down slowly, gently, dying sizzling deaths on the surface of the water, and Akira got a sinking feeling in her stomach.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz