The inspection was quite perfunctory.
Source: tatoeba (239086)
Perfunctory
/pɚˈfʌŋk.tɚ.i/
Synonyms for "perfunctory" (157 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (32)
Adjective(7 words)
Strong matches (47)
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(5 words)
Noun(2 words)
glancingmost mechanical
Related words (78)
neuterneutralnonchalantnot in the moodobliviousoffhandopposedpococurantepromiscuousquickrecalcitrantrecklessrefractoryregardlessreluctantremovedrenitentresistantrespectlessrestive
Show 44 more words
ritualroutinerushedsketchyslipshodslovenlyslowslow tospottystandardstocksulkysullensummarysuperficialtactlesstepidthoughtlesstokenturned offturned-offunanxiousunawareunconcernedunconsentinguncriticalundiplomaticundiscriminatingunenthusiasticunheedfulunheedinguninteresteduninvolvedunmindfulunpreparedunreadyunsolicitousuntactfulunthinkingunwillingunzealoususualwoodenzealless
Adjective(10 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: cursory, superficial, airy, apathetic, at odds.
- Sentence evidence is available for perfunctory, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "perfunctory".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "perfunctory"
Keep "perfunctory" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "perfunctory" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "perfunctory", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "perfunctory" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesMore specific
8 entriesbrief commentarybrief nodceremonial endorsementformal acknowledgmentrote gestureroutine assentsurface critiquesurface reading
Collocations
6 entriesperfunctory apologyperfunctory gestureperfunctory glanceperfunctory inspectionperfunctory nodperfunctory smile
Inflections
2 entriesmore perfunctorymost perfunctory
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
76 translations across 25 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- небрежен adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- повърхностен adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Catalan
2 entries- descurat adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- perfuntori adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Chinese Mandarin
3 entries- 不痛不癢 /不痛不痒 adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- 含糊 adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- 敷衍 adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Czech
4 entries- formální adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- ledabylý adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- letmý adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- povrchní adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Danish
2 entries- overfladisk adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- skødesløs adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Dutch
4 entries- (louter) plichtmatig adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- machinaal adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- routineus adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- werktuiglijk adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Esperanto
2 entries- indiferenta adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- supraĵa adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Finnish
3 entries- pintapuolinen adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- puolihuolimaton adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- rutiininomainen adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
French
4 entries- bâclé adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- de pure forme adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- détaché adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- négligeant adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
German
4 entries- der Form halber adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- flüchtig adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- formell adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- maschinell adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Greek
1 entries- διεκπεραιωτικός adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Hungarian
3 entries- felületes adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- futó adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- hanyag adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Irish
2 entries- neamhaireach adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- sleamchúiseach adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Italian
2 entries- sbrigativo adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- superficiale adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Japanese
1 entries- 御座成の adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Polish
2 entries- pobieżny adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- powierzchowny adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Portuguese
1 entries- perfunctório adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Romanian
3 entries- cu neglijenââ adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- cu superficialitate adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- superficial adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Russian
3 entries- машина́льный adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- небре́жный adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- пове́рхностный adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Serbo-Croatian
4 entries- mahinalan adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- makinalan adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- макиналан adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- махиналан adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Spanish
4 entries- maquinal adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- perfunctorio adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- rutinario adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- somero adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Swedish
3 entries- invand adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- slentrianmässig adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- vana adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Ukrainian
4 entries- машинальний adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- недбалий adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- поверхневий adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- формальний adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Vietnamese
3 entries- hời hợt adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- qua loa adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
- đại khái adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Yiddish
1 entries- אויבנאויפֿיק adj (performed out of routine, with little care)
Sample sentences
10 total sentences available.
Tom gave Mary a perfunctory kiss.
Source: tatoeba (3727579)
Tom made only a perfunctory effort to dissuade Mary.
Source: tatoeba (9995277)
The U.S. Senate voted late Tuesday to overhaul America’s tax system, putting President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans one perfunctory vote away from scoring a major legislative victory and fulfilling a campaign promise.
Source: tatoeba (11602069)
Showing 4 of 10 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "perfunctory"?
Closest matches include cursory, superficial, airy, apathetic, at odds.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "perfunctory"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.