Using perfunctory correctly

Question

Perfunctory is defined as doing something in a hasty, cursory manner. Would it be correct to use this word as perfunctorily as well? If not, what would be the correct usage? For example, if you were to tell someone not to do something so perfunctorially.

My gut instinct says yes but I'm being flagged by word processors and Google search for an incorrect spelling.

https://www.google.com/search?q=perfunctorily – Arm the good guys in America Oct 12 '17 at 21:43 — Arm the good guys in America, Oct 12 '17 at 21:43

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 12 '17 at 11:41

0

The Oxford Living Dictionaries perfunctorily accept the word.
The word is a bit awkward to pronounce, but it is OK to use.

Other words could work as substitutes, thoughtlessly, for example. Perfunctorily is not a word I would expect to be used very often, I would sooner expect to be asked not to perform something so mechcanically.

answered Oct 12 '17 at 11:41

J. Taylor

5,135

+1, it's even awkward to visually parse. Adjusting the grammar to fit the word "perfunctory" as-is would probably be a reasonable middle-ground. – Polynomial Oct 12 '17 at 11:57

Using perfunctory correctly

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