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
What got centered were the perfunctory tasks government defaults to when everyone is stretched thin — checking the legal and regulatory boxes for approval, designing detour protocols, posting the orange signs in the right places and marking the lane closures clearly.
—
Andrew Chrismer, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
From then on, the storytelling goes slack and perfunctory as sharks swarm and chomp on passengers and crew clinging for dear lives on rafts or slabs of plane wreckage.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
LaToya Jackson answers my questions in a polite but perfunctory monotone.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
Both actors have made the time spent on the investigation side of the show enjoyable, even at its most perfunctory.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perfunctory
Andrew Chrismer, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
From then on, the storytelling goes slack and perfunctory as sharks swarm and chomp on passengers and crew clinging for dear lives on rafts or slabs of plane wreckage.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
LaToya Jackson answers my questions in a polite but perfunctory monotone.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
Both actors have made the time spent on the investigation side of the show enjoyable, even at its most perfunctory.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perfunctory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfunctory
Adjective
-
Behind the black shades, the 22-year-old looked like a mirror image of her mom, channeling Paltrow's signature nonchalant pose.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
5 June 2026
-
The toxic dating myth that's derailing our relationships Being unbothered and nonchalant has become a dating ideal, accelerated by a swiping culture that has eroded our ability to connect in person.—
Sabrina Romanoff,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Fairmont draws a diverse crowd—from business travelers to couples celebrating anniversaries, to casual visitors—creating a lively but laid-back atmosphere.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
-
Amenities include Sunset Beach with complimentary chairs and umbrellas for guests and the new Captiva Landing water playground with waterslides, a lazy river, arcade, and casual restaurant.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perfunctory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfunctory. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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