cursory
Adjective
Medium difficulty
What does “cursory” mean?
adjective.hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in contexts related to analysis or evaluation, suggesting a lack of depth in understanding or attention. It emphasizes superficiality, contrasting with thoroughness or diligence, and highlights the potential consequences of neglecting detail in various scenarios, such as research or assessments.
Common Confusions
Cursory implies a hasty and superficial examination, while meticulous usually suggests a careful and detailed approach to analysis or evaluation.
Do not choose cursory if the context emphasizes thoroughness or detail rather than being hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
Example Sentences
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Most junk mail requires only a cursory glance.
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After only a cursory glance at the report, she realized that more in-depth analysis was needed to fully understand the implications of the findings.