Synonyms for On the surface:

• adj.

  •one-dimensional (adjective)
  • one dimensional,
  • onedimensional.
  •outward (adjective)
  • external,
  • observable,
  • obvious,
  • open,
  • from within,
  • evident,
  • ostensible,
  • exterior,
  • noticeable,
  • outer,
  • toward the edge,
  • perceptible,
  • apparent,
  • over.
  •skin-deep (adjective)
  • empty,
  • casual,
  • flimsy,
  • meaningless.
  •superficial (adjective)
  • glib,
  • perfunctory,
  • sketchy,
  • partial,
  • desultory,
  • inattentive,
  • silly,
  • cosmetic,
  • warped,
  • general,
  • passing,
  • slapdash,
  • hasty,
  • half-baked,
  • hurried,
  • ignorant,
  • summary,
  • lightweight,
  • frivolous,
  • seeming,
  • peripheral,
  • flash.

• adv

  •ostensibly (adverb)
  • the eye.

• adv.

  •ostensibly (adverb)
  • officially,
  • supposedly,
  • sensibly,
  • professedly,
  • at first blush,
  • for all intents and purposes,
  • on the face,
  • to the eye,
  • for show.
  •outwardly (adverb)
  • on the face of it,
  • as far as one can see,
  • in appearance.
  •superficially (adverb)
  • casually,
  • carelessly,
  • skim,
  • partially,
  • hastily.

• n.

  •on the face of it (noun)
  • face.

• Other synonyms:

  •Other relevant words:
  • jejune,
  • externally,
  • ankle-deep,
  • openly,
  • trivial,
  • unprofound,
  • knee-deep,
  • extrinsically,
  • out,
  • visibly,
  • outside,
  • slight,
  • light,
  • prima facie,
  • apparently,
  • to all appearances,
  • epidermal,
  • Without,
  • shallow,
  • surface,
  • evidently,
  • shoal,
  • thin.

Antonyms for On the surface:

• adj.

  • outward
    invisible, obscure, inward.
  • superficial
    deep, genuine, important, mature, thoughtful, careful, sensible, complete, detailed, serious, wise, thorough, analytical, significant.

• adv.

  • ostensibly
    improbably, unlikely, obscurely.
  • outwardly
    internally, inside, inwardly, privately.
  • superficially
    carefully, thoroughly, deeply.