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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of perfunctory
Across his multimedia practice, Aram’s project is one of disrupting the habits of classification that render aesthetic judgment perfunctory.
—
Julian Stern, Artforum, 24 Mar. 2026
All the while, attendants processed passengers with an efficiency that felt more perfunctory than polite.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026
The Dominican team set a WBC record for home runs in this tournament – and, presumably, a record for ensuing bat flips and elaborate home run trots that turn a perfunctory trip around the bases into a performative celebration of national identity and personal swagger.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Testimony by Johnson’s interim chief financial officer, Steven Mahr, late last month was perfunctory, and the presence of an interim CFO not nearly enough to represent the city’s stake in all this.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perfunctory
Julian Stern, Artforum, 24 Mar. 2026
All the while, attendants processed passengers with an efficiency that felt more perfunctory than polite.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2026
The Dominican team set a WBC record for home runs in this tournament – and, presumably, a record for ensuing bat flips and elaborate home run trots that turn a perfunctory trip around the bases into a performative celebration of national identity and personal swagger.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Testimony by Johnson’s interim chief financial officer, Steven Mahr, late last month was perfunctory, and the presence of an interim CFO not nearly enough to represent the city’s stake in all this.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perfunctory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfunctory
Adjective
-
Fagen’s nonchalant cameo, though, got the Steely Dan community in a tizzy.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Scott inflicts Ohm’s nonchalant meanness with a piercingly perverse matter-of-factness that places the character as far away as possible from the realm of likeability.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Jamie’s blends retail with a casual bistro atmosphere.—
Chris Malloy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
-
For attorneys in an overcrowded marketplace, in a city with casual ethics and a weakness for flamboyance, an outlandish sales pitch can be the best way to break through.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perfunctory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfunctory. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
