as in nonchalant
having or showing a lack of interest or concern
the violinist delivered a perfunctory performance that displayed none of the passion and warmth he was once known for
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Recent Examples of perfunctory
Naomi and Sandy may be perfunctory Jews, but their ‘70s commune was a Buddhist retreat.
—
John Domini, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2023
With the filing of a perfunctory final order, the Connecticut Supreme Court has approved minimal revisions to a 20-year-old congressional map and authorized payment of $89,800 to the special master who produced it.
—Mark Pazniokas, courant.com, 11 Feb. 2022
Drawn largely from interview tapes of what would eventually make up Gregory’s 1964 memoir, the opening section feels perfunctory.
—Michael Anthony Neal, Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2022
However, the gestures at intersectionality come off as perfunctory and are often compromised by stereotypes.
—Amanda Chen, The New Republic, 1 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for perfunctory 
John Domini, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2023
With the filing of a perfunctory final order, the Connecticut Supreme Court has approved minimal revisions to a 20-year-old congressional map and authorized payment of $89,800 to the special master who produced it.
—Mark Pazniokas, courant.com, 11 Feb. 2022
Drawn largely from interview tapes of what would eventually make up Gregory’s 1964 memoir, the opening section feels perfunctory.
—Michael Anthony Neal, Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2022
However, the gestures at intersectionality come off as perfunctory and are often compromised by stereotypes.
—Amanda Chen, The New Republic, 1 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for perfunctory
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Cite this Entry
“Perfunctory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfunctory. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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