adjective

facile

/ˈfæsəl/ · say it: FAS·ul

too simple to be taken seriously

In From the Opinion Pages

In more detail

1. (adjective) done or achieved too easily, without enough care or thought

2. (adjective) able to do something easily; working or moving smoothly and easily

Examples

1. The author's facile explanation of a complex problem disappointed the critics.
2. She had a facile way of speaking French, making it sound effortless.

How to use facile

Facile is primarily used as a pejorative term to criticize something as oversimplified or lacking depth, though its original sense of 'accomplished with ease' persists in more literary contexts. It typically appears in academic or formal discourse when dismissing superficial thinking or glib responses. The critical sense dominates in modern usage, making it less commonly used to simply mean 'easy' or 'fluent.'

Common phrases

facile argument
facile solution
facile answer
facile approach
facile explanation

Synonyms

superficial · glib · simplistic · effortless · smooth

Opposites

profound · difficult · labored

Word family

facilely (adverb) · facility (noun) · facilitate (verb)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse facile with merely 'easy' and use it in neutral contexts without the negative connotation of carelessness or superficiality that it typically carries.

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