perfunctory effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perfunctory effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that is done with minimal effort or care, often to fulfill a requirement without genuine engagement. Example: "His perfunctory effort in completing the project was evident, as he rushed through the tasks without paying attention to detail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And some of Mrs. Clinton's aides said Mr. Obama's campaign had made only a perfunctory effort to hire Clinton staff members; the Clinton campaign payroll is ending for most employees in less than a week.

The New York Times

By making at least a perfunctory effort to woo black communities, Trump may be able to persuade some white people that he's not racist at all.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But The Times did not try to verify it, beyond a few perfunctory efforts, which I think was wrong.

The New York Times

He makes only the most perfunctory efforts to find people who knew Destry-Scholes and no effort at all to use the Internet or other resources to try to find more information.

The New York Times - Books

The leaders of this movement barricade themselves with a few thousand hapless shopper-hostages in the great dome of the Metro-Centre and withstand for two months the government's somewhat perfunctory efforts to unseat or outwait them.

The Guardian - Books

Touré, Quinlan concluded, was "at fault in the limited and perfunctory efforts he made in relation to the water tablets; the checks he made in relation to those tablets were inadequate and fell some way below what it would be reasonable to expect of a professional footballer".

The Guardian - Sport

Perfunctory efforts were made to curb air pollution, but little enforcement of existing legislation was undertaken once the war began.

Wikipedia

This needs more effort than perfunctory tipping forums (which could also be good if they were interactive and better publicised).

The Guardian - Sport

Meanwhile, Beidahuang continues to prepare the reports in a rather perfunctory manner, without much effort made even in terms of wording.

Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Iraq's television channels and other media continued to focus on recovery efforts, giving perfunctory treatment to the release of the Chilcot report.

The Guardian

Many people inside the television industry are astonished that a cable network's highest-rated host, whose forceful personality and liberal advocacy had lifted MSNBC from irrelevance to competitiveness and profitability, would be ushered out the door with no fanfare, no promoted farewell show and only a perfunctory thanks for his efforts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "perfunctory effort", ensure the context clearly indicates a lack of genuine engagement or thoroughness. It's effective for highlighting insincere or superficial actions.

Common error

Avoid using "perfunctory effort" when you intend to describe a sincere but unsuccessful attempt. The phrase inherently implies a lack of genuine commitment, not just failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perfunctory effort" functions as a descriptive term, typically used to characterize the quality of an attempt or action. It indicates that the effort was carried out with minimal enthusiasm or genuine commitment, similar to examples seen in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "perfunctory effort" is a phrase used to describe an action or attempt lacking genuine enthusiasm or commitment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and primarily found in news and media contexts. The phrase suggests a superficial approach, often prompting criticism or disappointment. While semantically related alternatives like "superficial attempt" or "cursory attempt" exist, the choice depends on the desired nuance. When employing this term, ensure clarity in conveying the absence of sincere engagement. Although the phrase is correct, its overall frequency is relatively low.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perfunctory gesture

Highlights how the action was performed routinely with little interest or care.

superficial attempt

Emphasizes the lack of depth or thoroughness in the effort.

cursory attempt

Highlights the brief and hurried nature of the effort.

half-hearted endeavor

Focuses on the lack of enthusiasm or commitment behind the effort.

token gesture

Suggests the effort was made primarily for appearance rather than genuine intent.

minimal exertion

Underlines how the action performed was done with a little amount of effort.

routine undertaking

Highlights that the effort was executed as standard procedure, without any individual thought or attention.

mechanical action

Implies the absence of thought or feeling in the performance of the effort.

lip service

Highlights insincere expression of support or effort.

passing nod

Underlines the briefness and inattention of the effort, much like a quick greeting.

FAQs

How can I use "perfunctory effort" in a sentence?

You can use "perfunctory effort" to describe an attempt that is done without real interest, care, or enthusiasm. For example, "His "perfunctory effort" to clean his room consisted of shoving everything under the bed".

What's a good substitute for "perfunctory effort"?

Alternatives include "superficial attempt", "cursory attempt", or "half-hearted endeavor". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "perfunctory" really mean?

Perfunctory means (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection. Thus, "perfunctory effort" describes an action done as a formality, without genuine interest or care.

Is it better to make a perfunctory effort or no effort at all?

While a "perfunctory effort" might fulfill a requirement on the surface, it often lacks the quality and genuine intent of a more engaged approach. The choice depends on the specific situation and desired outcome.