Deep vs. Superficial: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Deep refers to something extensive, profound, or physically far down, while superficial implies being on the surface, shallow, or lacking depth.
Key Differences
Deep often implies complexity and thoroughness in understanding or analysis. Superficial, conversely, suggests a lack of depth or detailed understanding.
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Deep can describe intense, profound emotions or thoughts. Superficial is used for emotions or thoughts that are shallow or not deeply felt.
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In a physical context, deep refers to something extending far down from the surface. Superficial refers to something existing or occurring at or on the surface.
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Deep signifies serious intellectual or philosophical engagement. Superficial implies a cursory or surface-level engagement with a topic.
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Deep often conveys sincerity and authenticity in character or conversation. Superficial can imply a lack of genuineness or seriousness.
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Comparison Chart
Complexity
Involves complexity and thoroughness
Lacks depth, often simplistic
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Emotional Depth
Profound, intense emotions
Shallow, not deeply felt emotions
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Intellectual Quality
Serious, philosophical engagement
Cursory, surface-level engagement
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Deep and Superficial Definitions
Deep
Having great intensity or seriousness.
She had a deep understanding of the subject.
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Superficial
Lacking depth of character or understanding.
Their conversation was superficial and brief.
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Deep
Having a deep, full, and reverberating sound.
His deep voice echoed in the hall.
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Superficial
Existing or occurring at or on the surface.
The wound was only superficial and not serious.
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Superficial
Being apparent but lacking substance or conviction.
His interest in the topic was purely superficial.
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Superficial
Of, affecting, or being on or near the surface
A superficial wound.
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Superficial
Concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; shallow
Wrote him off as superficial.
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Deep
Extending far from side to side from a center
A deep yard surrounding the house.
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Superficial
Apparent rather than actual or substantial
A superficial resemblance between the two films.
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Superficial
Not extensive or important; minor or insignificant
Made only a few superficial changes in the manuscript.
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Deep
(Sports) Located or taking place near the outer boundaries of the area of play
Deep left field.
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Superficial
Situated or occurring on the skin or immediately beneath it.
Superficial muscles
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Deep
Extending a specific distance in a given direction
Snow four feet deep.
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Superficial
Not thorough, deep, or complete; concerned only with the obvious or apparent.
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Deep
Difficult to penetrate or understand; recondite
A deep metaphysical theory.
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Superficial
Lacking depth of character or understanding; lacking substance or significance.
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Deep
Of a mysterious or obscure nature
A deep secret.
Ancient and deep tribal rites.
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Superficial
A surface detail.
He always concentrates on the superficials and fails to see the real issue.
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Superficial
Of or pertaining to the superficies, or surface; lying on the surface; shallow; not deep; as, a superficial color; a superficial covering; superficial measure or contents; superficial tillage.
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Superficial
Reaching or comprehending only what is obvious or apparent; not deep or profound; shallow; - said especially in respect to study, learning, and the like; as, a superficial scholar; superficial knowledge.
This superficial taleIs but a preface of her worthy praise.
He is a presumptuous and superficial writer.
That superficial judgment, which happens to be right without deserving to be so.
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Deep
Very absorbed or involved
Deep in thought.
Deep in financial difficulties.
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Superficial
Being or affecting or concerned with a surface; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually;
Superficial similarities
A superficial mind
His thinking was superficial and fuzzy
Superficial knowledge
The superficial report didn't give the true picture
Only superficial differences
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Superficial
Relating to a surface;
Superficial measurements
The superficial area of the wall
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Superficial
Of little substance or significance;
A few superficial editorial changes
Only trivial objections
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Superficial
Involving a surface only;
Her beauty is only skin-deep
Superficial bruising
A surface wound
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Deep
Covered or surrounded to a designated degree. Often used in combination
Waist-deep in the water.
Ankle-deep in snow.
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Superficial
Not thorough or detailed.
She gave the report a superficial review.
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Superficial
Lacking sincerity or depth of feeling.
His apology seemed superficial and unconvincing.
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Deep
(Sports) Having a sufficient number of capable reserve players
That team is not very deep.
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Deep
(Sports) Close to the outer boundaries of the area of play
Played deep for the first three innings.
Ran deep into their opponents' territory.
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Deep
A deep place in land or in a body of water
Drowned in the deep of the river.
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Deep
(Nautical) A sounding that falls between marks on a lead line and thus corresponds to an estimated depth rather than a precise depth.
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Deep
Extending far down from the top, or surface, to the bottom, literally or figuratively.
The lake is extremely deep.
We hiked into a deep valley between tall mountains.
There was a deep layer of dust on the floor; the room had not been disturbed for many years.
In the mid-1970s, the economy went into a deep recession.
We are in deep trouble.
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Deep
Far in extent in another (non-downwards, but generally also non-upwards) direction away from a point of reference.
The shelves are 30 centimetres deep. — They are deep shelves.
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Deep
(in combination) Extending to a level or length equivalent to the stated thing.
The water was waist-deep.
There is an arm-deep hole in the wall.
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Deep
In a (specified) number of rows or layers.
A crowd three deep along the funeral procession
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Deep
Positioned or reaching far, especially down through something or into something.
Diving down to deep wrecks can be dangerous.
I can't get the bullet out – it's too deep.
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Deep
Profound, having great meaning or import, but possibly obscure or not obvious.
That is a deep thought!
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Deep
Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; intricate; obscure.
A deep subject or plot
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Deep
Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
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Deep
(of a color or flavour) Highly saturated; rich.
That's a very deep shade of blue.
The spices impart a deep flavour to the dish.
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Deep
(sleep) Sound, heavy (describing a state of sleep from which one is not easily awoken).
He was in a deep sleep.
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Deep
Far, especially far down through something or into something, physically or figuratively.
The ogre lived in a cave deep underground.
We ventured deep into the forest.
His problems lie deep in the subconscious.
I am deep in debt.
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Deep
(also deeply) In a profound, not superficial, manner.
I thought long and deep.
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Deep
(sports) Back towards one's own goal, baseline, or similar.
He's normally a midfield player, but today he's playing deep.
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Deep
(cricket) A fielding position near the boundary.
Russell is a safe pair of hands in the deep.
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Deep
Extending far below the surface; of great perpendicular dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high, which is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certain depth; as, a deep sea.
The water where the brook is deep.
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Deep
Extending far back from the front or outer part; of great horizontal dimension (measured backward from the front or nearer part, mouth, etc.); as, a deep cave or recess or wound; a gallery ten seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep.
Shadowing squadrons deep.
Safely in harborIs the king's ship in the deep nook.
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Deep
Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep valley.
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Deep
Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; - opposed to shallow or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a deep subject or plot.
Speculations high or deep.
A question deep almost as the mystery of life.
O Lord, . . . thy thoughts are very deep.
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Deep
Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
Deep clerks she dumbs.
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Deep
Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt; as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror.
An attitude of deep respect.
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Deep
Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue or crimson.
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Deep
Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy.
The bass of heaven's deep organ.
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Deep
Muddy; boggy; sandy; - said of roads.
The ways in that vale were very deep.
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Deep
To a great depth; with depth; far down; profoundly; deeply.
Deep-versed in books, and shallow in himself.
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.
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Deep
That which is deep, especially deep water, as the sea or ocean; an abyss; a great depth.
Courage from the deeps of knowledge springs.
The hollow deep of hell resounded.
Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound.
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Deep
That which is profound, not easily fathomed, or incomprehensible; a moral or spiritual depth or abyss.
Thy judgments are a great deep.
The deep of night is crept upon our talk.
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Deep
The central and most intense or profound part;
In the deep of night
In the deep of winter
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Deep
Relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply;
A deep breath
A deep sigh
Deep concentration
Deep emotion
A deep trance
In a deep sleep
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Deep
Having great spatial extension or penetration downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or laterally or outward from a center; sometimes used in combination;
A deep well
A deep dive
Deep water
A deep casserole
A deep gash
Deep massage
Deep pressure receptors in muscles
Deep shelves
A deep closet
Surrounded by a deep yard
Hit the ball to deep center field
In deep space
Waist-deep
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Deep
Very distant in time or space;
Deep in the past
Deep in enemy territory
Deep in the woods
A deep space probe
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Deep
Having or denoting a low vocal or instrumental range;
A deep voice
A bass voice is lower than a baritone voice
A bass clarinet
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Deep
(of darkness) very intense;
Thick night
Thick darkness
A face in deep shadow
Deep night
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Deep
Of an obscure nature;
The new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms
A deep dark secret
The inscrutible workings of Providence
In its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life
Rituals totally mystifying to visitors from other lands
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Deep
Difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge;
The professor's lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid them
A deep metaphysical theory
Some recondite problem in historiography
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Deep
Exhibiting great cunning usually with secrecy;
Deep political machinations
A deep plot
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Deep
To far into space;
Penetrated deep into enemy territory
Went deep into the woods
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Deep
Far down from the surface or base.
The divers explored the deep parts of the ocean.
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Deep
Showing careful consideration or serious reflection.
His deep thoughts often kept him awake at night.
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Deep
Characterized by deep or forceful feelings.
The movie had a deep emotional impact on the audience.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can a person be superficial?
Yes, describing a person as superficial implies they lack depth or seriousness.
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What makes a wound superficial?
A wound is superficial if it affects only the surface of the skin.
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What does deep mean in psychology?
In psychology, deep refers to profound understanding or significant emotional depth.
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How do you describe a deep conversation?
A deep conversation involves serious, thoughtful, and profound topics.
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Is deep learning a technical term?
Yes, in technology, deep learning refers to complex, layered neural networks.
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Can a relationship be superficial?
A superficial relationship lacks depth, seriousness, and emotional connection.
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Do deep voices indicate anything?
Deep voices can suggest maturity and authority, though this varies.
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How does one develop deep knowledge?
Deep knowledge is developed through thorough study and understanding.
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Can a book be deep?
A book can be considered deep if it provides profound insights or complex ideas.
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Are superficial injuries serious?
Superficial injuries are generally not serious, affecting only the top layer of skin.
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What is a deep thinker?
A deep thinker is someone who engages in serious reflection and consideration.
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Can superficiality be positive?
Superficiality can be seen as positive in situations requiring a cursory approach.
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Can a movie be superficial?
A movie can be superficial if it lacks depth, complexity, or serious content.
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Does superficiality affect relationships?
Superficiality can negatively impact relationships by preventing deep connections.
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How do you know if someone is superficial?
A superficial person often shows a lack of depth, seriousness, or sincerity.
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What does deep sleep mean?
Deep sleep refers to a stage of sleep where a person is less responsive to external stimuli.
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Is superficiality common in social media?
Superficiality can be common in social media, focusing on appearances over substance.
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What is a deep emotion?
A deep emotion is a feeling that is intensely profound and significant.
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Can deep conversations be stressful?
Deep conversations can be stressful if they involve intense or difficult topics.
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What's the opposite of superficial?
The opposite of superficial is deep, profound, or thorough.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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