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
The stares were blank and the handshakes perfunctory, because the Canadians know the value of silver as pertains to this tournament.
—
Steve Buckley, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
But after a perfunctory squeeze, her father lays his head on her shoulder in a gesture of affectionate, put-on penitence.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
To revive an event that had trended toward perfunctory and missable, the NFL made a couple of changes in recent years.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Long-time Capitol observers were aghast that DeSantis stepped down from the House speaker’s rostrum without even a perfunctory handshake with Perez, who has the power to reject everything DeSantis wants in his last year in office.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perfunctory
Steve Buckley, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
But after a perfunctory squeeze, her father lays his head on her shoulder in a gesture of affectionate, put-on penitence.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
To revive an event that had trended toward perfunctory and missable, the NFL made a couple of changes in recent years.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Long-time Capitol observers were aghast that DeSantis stepped down from the House speaker’s rostrum without even a perfunctory handshake with Perez, who has the power to reject everything DeSantis wants in his last year in office.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perfunctory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfunctory
Adjective
-
No doubt that playful warmth played a part in him being cast as Luffy, a hilariously nonchalant, yet utterly sincere would-be pirate.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
To be so nonchalant about that.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But even casual high school boys basketball fans in the western suburbs recognize the Wolves as a force to be reckoned with by going toe-to-toe against top programs in the state under the direction of Velasquez, who is stepping down for some very good personal reasons.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Her makeup was similarly casual, with a natural, glowy finish and peach lips.—
Pamela Vázquez,
Glamour,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perfunctory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfunctory. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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