desultory

Libya sank into civil war with NATO's desultory participation taking it toward stalemate, maybe even break-up.

Just then an aide rode up, and the Colonel gave a sharp command which put an end to this desultory talk.

And yet he made a desultory struggle against what a secret voice was always whispering was a degradation.

Thus he had found in toil the pleasure and reward athletes had in their desultory training.

Father and son chatted in a desultory fashion across the car, and I took the opportunity of studying the old gentleman.

His attendance was desultory, and he does not appear to have completed his arts course.