facile
11 synonyms and 6 antonyms for facile, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Too simple to be convincing; arrived at without proper thought and ignoring the real difficulties.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Too simple to be convincing; arrived at without proper thought and ignoring the real difficulties.
“It's a facile explanation that ignores fifty years of history.”
Opposites
2. adjective
Achieved easily, sometimes suspiciously so, especially of a sporting win.
“A facile 4-0 victory over the bottom club.”
Opposites
How to use facile
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal and critical; common in reviews, opinion writing and academic argument.
Etymology
Via French from Latin facilis 'easy to do', from facere 'to do, make'.
Full origin of facile →Frequently asked questions
Is facile a compliment or an insult?
In modern English it is almost always critical. Calling an argument facile says it is glib and under-thought, not that it is elegantly easy. Only the sporting sense — a facile win — is neutral.
What is the difference between facile and simplistic?
They are close, and both are negative. Simplistic means an explanation leaves out necessary complexity. Facile adds a note of glibness — that the speaker reached the answer too easily and perhaps too pleased with themselves for doing so.