facile
too easy or superficial
Root
- fac / fic / fact: do or make
Other words with the fac / fic / fact root
- affectation: an artificial display meant to impress
- artificial: made by humans; not natural
- benefactor: person who gives help, money, or support
- beneficent: doing good or producing benefit
- beneficial: helpful or producing good effects
- certify: to confirm officially as true
- effect: a result or outcome
- efficacious: effective; producing the intended result
Facile began near easy-to-do. On exams it often means too easy, too smooth, or superficial.
The facile solution ignored the hardest part of the problem.
Facile is a warning word. Easy is not always bad, but facile often means the ease is suspicious: a smooth answer that did not wrestle with the hard part.