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View synonyms for perfunctory

perfunctory

[ per-fuhngk-tuh-ree ]

adjective

  1. performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial:

    perfunctory courtesy.

    Synonyms: uninterested, thoughtless, heedless, negligent

    Antonyms: diligent, careful

  2. lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic:

    In his lectures he reveals himself to be merely a perfunctory speaker.

    Synonyms: uninterested, thoughtless, heedless, negligent

    Antonyms: diligent, careful



perfunctory

/ pəˈfʌŋktərɪ /

adjective

  1. done superficially, only as a matter of routine; careless or cursory
  2. dull or indifferent
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • perˈfunctorily, adverb
  • perˈfunctoriness, noun
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Other Words From

  • per·functo·ri·ly adverb
  • per·functo·ri·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of perfunctory1

1575–85; < Late Latin perfūnctōrius negligent, superficial, derivative of perfungī to do one's job, be done, equivalent to per- per- + fung-, base of fungī to perform, function + -tōrius -tory 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of perfunctory1

C16: from Late Latin perfunctōrius negligent, from perfunctus dispatched, from perfungī to fulfil; see function
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Example Sentences

The scenes with Johnny and his buddies are handled in a perfunctory manner that made it hard for me to invest in their plights or paths.

But Oprah Winfrey coaxed that out of her first, which offers a hint as to why Cooper's style resulted in a dialogue that didn't feel like a perfunctory performance.

From Salon

During the roughly half hour of the session open to reporters, players ran through drills in a perfunctory manner.

He'll spend some time in Pennsylvania and Georgia and make some perfunctory stops in some of the other swing states just to keep it close enough to contest.

From Salon

The selfie represents one of the North’s few visible interactions with the outside world during the Games, including a perfunctory press conference by the two table-tennis stars.

From BBC

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