perfunctory
Collocations
4VERB + PERFUNCTORY
felt, gave, harassed, made
PERFUNCTORY + NOUN
courtesies, effort, myself
PREP.
with
ADV.
only, quite
Definitions
adj
Done only or merely to conform to a minimal standard or to fulfill a protocol or presumptive duty.
I caught the gist of what he was saying--which in effect was that he had found and captured this Galu, that she was his and that he defied anyone to question his right of possession. It appeared to me, as I afterward learned was the fact, that I was witnessing the most primitive of marriage ceremonies. The assembled members of the tribe looked on and listened in a sort of dull and perfunctory apathy, for the speaker was by far the mightiest of the clan.
He then poured some wine for me to taste, and harassed me with perfunctory courtesies that had to be acknowledged.
Performed in a careless or indifferent manner as a thing of rote.
He did a perfunctory job cleaning his dad's car, finishing quickly but leaving a few spots still dirty.
Alternatively it may mean that a perfunctory search is enough to ensure that a purchase is acceptable, so less search is carried out.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
adjective — hasty and without attention to detail
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
6I caught the gist of what he was saying--which in effect was that he had found and captured this Galu, that she was his and that he defied anyone to question his right of possession. It appeared to me
WiktionaryHe then poured some wine for me to taste, and harassed me with perfunctory courtesies that had to be acknowledged.
WiktionaryThe second section of the episode charged from Winterfell to Highgarden and Oldtown in a way that felt perfunctory. I found myself asking, “We’re just getting to Winterfell?”
WiktionaryThe inspection was quite perfunctory.
Tatoeba · #239086Tom gave Mary a perfunctory kiss.
Tatoeba · #3727579Tom made only a perfunctory effort to dissuade Mary.
Tatoeba · #9995277