perfunctory
- performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial: perfunctory courtesy.
- lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic: In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker.
Origin of perfunctory
Synonyms for perfunctory
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms for perfunctory
Related Words for perfunctory
sketchy, cursory, superficial, offhand, apathetic, careless, cool, disinterested, heedless, impersonal, inattentive, indifferent, involuntary, lackadaisical, laid-back, mechanical, negligent, routine, slipshod, slovenlyExamples from the Web for perfunctory
Contemporary Examples of perfunctory
Ronaldo also does more than the perfunctory share of philanthropy that we expect from our athletic superstars.
Why It’s Still OK to Hate Sexy Bastard Cristiano Ronaldo After He Saved Team USAEmily Shire
June 26, 2014
Frank Sinatra, who might have made a perfect Sky Masterson, made a perfunctory Nathan Detroit.
The debt-ceiling authorization has historically been a perfunctory mechanism.
It was unusual for Doc to be so perfunctory, but on this particular subject he was sticking to just the facts.
Spitzer rolled his eyes at the interruption, grumbling a perfunctory “very funny.”
Historical Examples of perfunctory
She began to fry her pork and apples, with a perfunctory attempt at conversation.
Tiverton TalesAlice Brown
He fell to them with only a perfunctory acknowledgment of my agency in procuring them.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
The tone of the question revealed its perfunctory character.
The Market-PlaceHarold Frederic
Teaching "at" these things in a dull, perfunctory way will do no good.
Rural Life and the Rural SchoolJoseph Kennedy
He thought it best to give a perfunctory grunt and hope Jeff would go on.
The PrisonerAlice Brown
perfunctory
- done superficially, only as a matter of routine; careless or cursory
- dull or indifferent
Word Origin for perfunctory
Word Origin and History for perfunctory
1580s, from Late Latin perfunctorius "careless, negligent," literally "like one who wishes to get through a thing," from Latin perfungus, past participle of perfungi "discharge, busy oneself, get through," from per- "through" + fungi "perform" (see function (n.)). Related: Perfunctorily.