perfunctory
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Perhaps that explains her perfunctory, somewhat rote speech — which still didn’t detract from the joy of her win.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
After rushing through a perfunctory account of the expedition, Ms. Adelman gets to the root of the problem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
As I visited congressional offices this week, meeting with sources and watching members of Congress interact with their constituents, it felt perfunctory — and, in some cases, sad.
From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2026
Right there, you have the perfect shadow-docket sandwich: perfunctory, bad decisionmaking, conclusory predictions about what constitutes an “emergency” and who’s going to win, decided in a couple of days, wiping out extensive factual findings.
From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2026
When the subject of the barge tour came up—and it came up fairly often—Henry played along in only the most perfunctory way, and his replies were mechanical and forced.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Vocabulary lists containing perfunctory
"The Lottery," Vocabulary from the short story
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"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
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