How to Use perfunctory in a Sentence

perfunctory

adjective

• Use Slack for more than just sort of perfunctory work things.
  — Wired Staff, Wired, 13 Mar. 2020
• But perfunctory sets like this one are hardly the stuff that dreams are made of.
  — Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2021
• In this scheme of things, norms and laws are perfunctory theater, at best.
  — Elizabeth Spiers, The New Republic, 24 July 2019
• The tiny flags pinned on so many politician’s lapels seemed less perfunctory and more like an act of faith.
  — Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2021
• These weren’t just perfunctory thank-yous.
  — Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
• Each chamber's bill now moves to the other side for votes that should be perfunctory.
  — Sarah Rankin, Star Tribune, 5 Feb. 2021
• One of them stuck his finger through the cage, and the raven pecked at it in a perfunctory manner.
  — New York Times, 21 Sep. 2021
• The link between the two new structures still has a perfunctory look.
  — Justin Davidson, Daily Intelligencer, 13 Apr. 2018
• In light of the attack, the fence around the campus looks puny, even perfunctory.
  — Ron Charles, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022
• Here is one way to get away from the perfunctory holiday ham or stuffed poultry.
  — Mary Bergin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2019
• This step is not perfunctory, and has already led to at least one woman facing a felony.
  — Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 3 Aug. 2020
• Only two actors were called in, but the second was more of a perfunctory meet.
  — Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
• This means that the day’s proceedings will not be perfunctory.
  — Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2021
• Your younger brother just drowned in a perfunctory half-sentence.
  — Anthony Lydgate, WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022
• First came the before pictures, as brightly lit and perfunctory as a mug shot.
  — Lena Dunham, Vogue, 12 Nov. 2018
• Workout may be a generous term—what the group went through was rather perfunctory.
  — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
• But the scenes on land seem rather perfunctory, if still pleasing and romantic.
  — Jocelyn Noveck, kansascity, 31 May 2018
• The composer sent a perfunctory note of praise and well wishes.
  — Ariel Shapiro, Forbes, 7 June 2021
• The athlete wandered up and gave a perfunctory sniff of hello to a stranger, then wandered away again.
  — Krista Stevens, Longreads, 22 June 2018
• Ampersand's perfunctory role throughout the first season proves that the show has no idea what to do with him.
  — Nick Schager, EW.com, 1 Nov. 2021
• The handshakes and hugs looked more heartfelt than perfunctory, and many lingered for more than a few seconds.
  — Garry Smits, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2021
• This was no rigid, perfunctory reading by an 18-year-old prodigy.
  — Zachary Lewis, cleveland.com, 22 July 2019
• There’s also a romance, perhaps the most perfunctory one this side of a children’s movie.
  — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 26 May 2022
• Perhaps that explains her perfunctory, somewhat rote speech — which still didn’t detract from the joy of her win.
  — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
• Most of the time, people have perfunctory attitudes about youth and their future.
  — Kate Santich, OrlandoSentinel.com, 8 May 2018
• Dark Phoenix should serve as a fittingly perfunctory farewell.
  — David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 June 2019
• Nearly always, the vote to go into a closed meeting is perfunctory.
  — Steve Vockrodt, kansascity, 27 July 2017
• Stand-up special intros tend to be perfunctory, but this one perfectly sets the tone for the hour that follows.
  — Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2021
• Appointments that do take place in person are likely to be shorter and feel more perfunctory.
  — Nina Martin, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2020
• But her scenes have a choppy, perfunctory quality that fights the story at every turn.
  — Ann Hornaday, Twin Cities, 8 Aug. 2019