Perfunctory vs. Cursory

Perfunctoryadjective

Done only to fulfil a duty, or in a careless or indifferent manner; performed mechanically and as a thing of rote.

‘He did a perfunctory job cleaning his dad's car, finishing quickly but leaving a few spots still dirty.’;

Cursoryadjective

hasty; superficial; careless

‘Most junk mail requires only a cursory glance.’;

Perfunctoryadjective

Done merely to get rid of a duty; performed mechanically and as a thing of rote; done in a careless and superficial manner; characterized by indifference; as, perfunctory admonitions.

Cursoryadjective

(obsolete) Running about; not stationary.

Perfunctoryadjective

Hence: Mechanical; indifferent; listless; careless.

Cursoryadjective

Running about; not stationary.

Perfunctoryadjective

hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough;

‘a casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house's structural flaws’; ‘a passing glance’; ‘perfunctory courtesy’;

Cursoryadjective

Characterized by haste; hastily or superficially performed; slight; superficial; careless.

‘Events far too important to be treated in a cursory manner.’;

Perfunctoryadjective

as a formality only;

‘a one-candidate pro forma election’;

Cursoryadjective

hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough;

‘a casual (or cursory) inspection failed to reveal the house's structural flaws’; ‘a passing glance’; ‘perfunctory courtesy’;

Perfunctoryadjective

(of an action) carried out without real interest, feeling, or effort

‘he gave a perfunctory nod’;

Cursoryadjective

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

‘a cursory glance at the figures’;