perfunctory

Meanings

• adjective

  Performed in a routine or mechanical way, without much thought or feeling; done merely to fulfill a duty or obligation.

  - "The assembly line workers performed their tasks perfunctorily."
  - "Despite her reservations, she went through the motions of the ceremony perfunctorily."

• adjective

  Performing an action or task in a way that is unenthusiastic or without genuine interest.

  - "The students answered the teacher's questions perfunctorily."
  - "He gave a perfunctory wave before leaving the room."

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Pronunciation

1. /pɚˈfʌŋk.tɚ.i/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5951918"

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Antonyms

careful , complete , thorough

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Synonyms

automatic , cursory , dutiful , mechanical , obligatory , slipshod , token , unthinking

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with perfunctory
functionary , infantry , dutifully

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Variants

List of all variants of perfunctory that leads to same result
perfunctorily , perfunctoriness , perfunctorinesses , perfunctory

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Late Middle English: from Latin perfunctus, past participle of perficere 'achieve, complete'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term perfunctory comes from the Latin word perfunctus, which means 'performed, completed'.

2. Perfunctory can also be used as a verb, meaning 'to perform perfunctorily' or 'to do something perfunctorily'.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. dutiful: Related to doing one's duty or obligation, often with a sense of respect or obedience.

2. routine: A sequence of actions regularly followed; a habit.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. You probably don't want to know how "perfunctory" was the presentation of the state's evidence, how tenth-rate was the performance of the court-appointed defense or how wretched was the end.

   - Christopher Hitchens,{it}Nation{/it},23-30 Aug. 1999

2. The eight-time Pro Bowl player sometimes goes several weeks without agreeing to do even the most "perfunctory" postgame interviews.

   - Nunyo Demasio,{it}Sports Illustrated{/it},8 Jan. 2007

3. Convivial and self-absorbed, he talks freely about crime and crooks, with only the most "perfunctory" nods toward conventional morality.

   - Edward Dolnick,{it}The Rescue Artist{/it},2005

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Perfunctory is often used to describe actions or tasks that are done without enthusiasm or genuine interest, and it can be found in various forms of literature, art, and music. For example, in literature, the term is used to describe characters who go through the motions of their daily lives without much emotion or engagement. In art, perfunctory might refer to a painting or sculpture that lacks depth or meaning. In music, a perfunctory performance might refer to a musician who plays their instrument without passion or emotion.

How to Memorize "perfunctory"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a person going through the motions of their daily tasks without much enthusiasm or engagement. Visualize the monotony and lack of emotion in their actions.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word perfunctory with the idea of going through the motions without genuine interest or emotion.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Use the acronym P-E-R-F-U-N-C-T-O-R-Y to remember the meaning: Performs Every Routine Function Unenthusiastically, Not with Thought or Feeling, Yielding predictable results.

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