perfunctoriness

noun

Definition of perfunctorinessnext
as in indifference

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfunctoriness
  1. indifference
  2. apathy
  3. disinterestedness
Noun
  • Any choice for or against the work, including the choice of no-choice—of indifference or disregard—confronts the question of authenticity.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Related Stories Colin Jost also appears as himself, reading his own children’s book to the Springfield Elementary audience, much to their indifference.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of indifference
Noun
  • His final essay collection asks many provocative questions about industrialism and apathy, but (perhaps wisely) offers no solutions to the world’s ills.
    — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the 57-year-old has not hidden his apathy for Hollywood.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of apathy
Noun
  • The spirit of disinterestedness became the foundation for a regulatory state.
    — Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
  • You can’t be disinterested, because everyone knows that disinterestedness is a façade.
    — Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2023
Definition of disinterestedness
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

perfunctorily
perfunctoriness
perfunctory
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perfunctoriness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfunctoriness. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of perseverate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All