A cursory examination of his teeth indicated that he had gingivitis.
Source: tatoeba (2017)
Cursory
/ˈkɝː.sə.ɹi/
Synonyms for "cursory" (163 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (33)
Adjective(8 words)
Strong matches (49)
Adjective(4 words)
flippantflyingfootlingforcedforgetfulfractiousfree and easyfurioushaphazardhastyheedlesshurriedimmediateinconsequentialinconsiderableinconsiderateindifferentindisposedindocileinsignificant
Show 23 more words
insouciantinstantinvoluntaryjejuneknee deepknee-deeplast minutelast-minutelazylightlittlelowmeagermindlessminiaturemutinousnegligibleno great shakesnot deepnot in the moodobliviousoffhandon the spot
Noun(2 words)
glancingless thorough
Related words (81)
on the surfaceopposedpassingperfunctorypettypicayunepicayunishpromiscuouspromptquickrandomrapidrecalcitrantrecklessrefractoryregardlessresistantrespectlessroughshallow
Show 38 more words
shallow-rootedshoalshortsketchyskin deepskin-deepslap-bangslapdashslightsmallsnapspeedysulkysullensummarysuperficialsurfaceswifttactlessthinthoughtlesstinytriflingtrivialunconsentinguncriticalundiplomaticunheedfulunheedingunmindfulunpreparedunprofoundunreadyunsolicitousuntactfulunthinkingunwillingurgent
Adjective(12 words)
passingpreliminaryquick appraisalquick sketchrapidshallow analysisshallow personsketchy descriptionsuperficial analysissurface layersurface-level detailsweak explanation
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: perfunctory, superficial, airy, ankle deep, ankle-deep.
- Sentence evidence is available for cursory, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "cursory".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "cursory"
Keep "cursory" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "cursory" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "cursory", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "cursory" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesqualitative descriptorsurface quality
More specific
6 entriescursory examinationcursory glancecursory inspectioncursory reviewcursory scancursory screening
Collocations
6 entriescursory examinationcursory glancecursory inspectioncursory readingcursory reviewcursory survey
Inflections
2 entriesmore cursorymost cursory
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
27 translations across 14 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- бегъл adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- повърхностен adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Czech
1 entries- zběžný adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Danish
2 entries- kursorisk adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- overfladisk adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Dutch
3 entries- haastig adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- oppervlakkig adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- vluchtig adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Finnish
3 entries- kursorinen adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- pikainen adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- pintapuolinen adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
French
2 entries- rapide adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- superficiel adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
German
2 entries- flüchtig adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- oberflächlich adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Italian
3 entries- distratto adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- rapido adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- sbrigativo adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Persian
1 entries- سرسری adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Polish
1 entries- pobieżny adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Russian
2 entries- бе́глый adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- пове́рхностный adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Spanish
1 entries- somero adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Swedish
3 entries- flyktig adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- hastig adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
- ytlig adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Yiddish
1 entries- אויבנאויפֿיק adj (hasty, superficial, careless)
Sample sentences
12 total sentences available.
He gave the material a cursory reading.
Source: tatoeba (2299125)
I only had a cursory look at it.
Source: tatoeba (7316218)
Cassidy was relieved when the police officer waved her on after only a cursory glance into her back seat.
Source: tatoeba (10266637)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "cursory"?
Closest matches include perfunctory, superficial, airy, ankle deep, ankle-deep.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "cursory"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.