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
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
Underwriting of credit card grants is perfunctory at best.
—George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perfunctory
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
Underwriting of credit card grants is perfunctory at best.
—George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perfunctory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfunctory
Adjective
-
In the world of street style, models offer a particular brand of nonchalant cool that the industry has long been obsessed with.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
25 May 2026
-
Her nonchalant reaction makes sense considering the Timberwolves scored 37 runs in their last three regular season games and 32 runs in their three playoff games entering Saturday.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Just beyond the front desk, a fire roars behind a massive stone hearth, and a live piano plays in the heart of the resort, the lobby lounge (dubbed the Living Room), a choice spot for lunch, casual meetings, or pre-dinner drinks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Goodman, with her friendly, approachable writing style, demystified what had previously been a wonky, mathematical discipline, allowing even casual readers to feel a newfound connection with the tides of the universe.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perfunctory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfunctory. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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