cursory

adjective

cur·so·ry ˈkərs-rē How to pronounce cursory (audio)

ˈkər-sə-

: rapidly and often superficially performed or produced : hasty

a cursory glance

Only a cursory inspection of the building's electrical wiring was done.

cursorily

ˈkərs-rə-lē How to pronounce cursory (audio)

ˈkər-sə-

adverb

cursoriness

ˈkərs-rē-nəs How to pronounce cursory (audio)

ˈkər-sə-

noun

Did you know?

What Is the Difference Between cursory,superficial, and shallow?

Cursory and its synonyms superficial and shallow all mean "lacking in depth or care"—but these words are not used in exactly the same way in all cases. Cursory, which comes from the Latin verb currere ("to run"), implies speed and stresses a lack of attention to detail. While cursory suggests a lack of thoroughness, superficial implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features. An analysis of a problem might be labeled "superficial" if it considers only the obvious and fails to dig deeper into the issue. Shallow is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character, as in "insensitive and shallow comments."

Example Sentences

Only a cursory inspection of the building's electrical wiring was done. The mayor gave a cursory glance at the report. Even the most cursory look at the organization's records shows problems.

Recent Examples on the Web Some characters don’t even get a cursory introduction.

Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 This is of a piece with the Owenses’ apparent attitude toward Africans, as evidenced by eyewitnesses and even a cursory reading of their own writing.

Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic, 11 July 2022 But the firm’s investigators were only allowed to do a cursory examination of machinery, the person said, and Binnall’s efforts to compel access to additional equipment were rejected by the judge in the case.

Amy Gardner, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 But the firm’s investigators were only allowed to do a cursory examination of machinery, the person said, and Binnall’s efforts to compel access to additional equipment were rejected by the judge in the case.

Anchorage Daily News, 15 Aug. 2022 Identifying the favorites in college football for the upcoming 2022 campaign is easy with just a cursory glance at the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches poll.

Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2022 This goes on all time, as even a cursory glance at cryptocurrency news feeds will confirm.

David G.w. Birch, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Unfortunately, the film only takes a cursory, superficial glance at this societal malady, as if a deeper dive would harshen the mellow of its romantic comedy.

Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2022 More than 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists concur that anthropogenic temperature change is a reality, and challenges to that claim, while abundant, never stand up to even cursory examination.

Nick Scott, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2022 See More

cursory

adjective

as in hurried

acting or done with excessive or careless speed your essays require more than a cursory effort at proofreading

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

hurried
hasty
rushed
rash
quick
sudden
impulsive
drive-by
rapid
makeshift
headlong
precipitate
swift
reckless
flying
precipitous
overhasty
spontaneous
gadarene
impromptu
abrupt
rush
helter-skelter
slapdash
pell-mell
breakneck
offhand
offhanded
breathtaking
speedy
madcap
heady
impatient
impetuous
snap
unadvised
off-the-cuff
spur-of-the-moment
horseback
hotheaded
headstrong

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deliberate
unhurried
circumspect
unrushed
tentative
prolonged
measured
calculated
calculating
extended
foresighted
leisurely
hesitant
forethoughtful
slow
faltering
hesitating
pokey
drawn-out
long-term
poky
dallying
laggard
dawdling
shilly-shallying

Synonym Chooser

The words shallow and superficial are common synonyms of cursory. While all three words mean "lacking in depth or solidity," cursory suggests a lack of thoroughness or a neglect of details.

gave the letter only a cursory reading

The words shallow and cursory can be used in similar contexts, but shallow is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character.

a light, shallow, and frivolous review

The synonyms superficial and cursory are sometimes interchangeable, but superficial implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features.

a superficial analysis of the problem

单词	cursory
释义	cursory adjective cur·so·ry ˈkərs-rē ˈkər-sə- : rapidly and often superficially performed or produced : hasty a cursory glance Only a cursory inspection of the building's electrical wiring was done. cursorily ˈkərs-rə-lē ˈkər-sə- adverb cursoriness ˈkərs-rē-nəs ˈkər-sə- noun Did you know? What Is the Difference Between cursory,superficial, and shallow? Cursory and its synonyms superficial and shallow all mean "lacking in depth or care"—but these words are not used in exactly the same way in all cases. Cursory, which comes from the Latin verb currere ("to run"), implies speed and stresses a lack of attention to detail. While cursory suggests a lack of thoroughness, superficial implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features. An analysis of a problem might be labeled "superficial" if it considers only the obvious and fails to dig deeper into the issue. Shallow is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character, as in "insensitive and shallow comments." Synonyms drive-by flying gadarene hasty headlong helter-skelter hurried overhasty pell-mell precipitate precipitous rash rushed See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Only a cursory inspection of the building's electrical wiring was done. The mayor gave a cursory glance at the report. Even the most cursory look at the organization's records shows problems. Recent Examples on the Web Some characters don’t even get a cursory introduction. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 This is of a piece with the Owenses’ apparent attitude toward Africans, as evidenced by eyewitnesses and even a cursory reading of their own writing. Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic, 11 July 2022 But the firm’s investigators were only allowed to do a cursory examination of machinery, the person said, and Binnall’s efforts to compel access to additional equipment were rejected by the judge in the case. Amy Gardner, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 But the firm’s investigators were only allowed to do a cursory examination of machinery, the person said, and Binnall’s efforts to compel access to additional equipment were rejected by the judge in the case. Anchorage Daily News, 15 Aug. 2022 Identifying the favorites in college football for the upcoming 2022 campaign is easy with just a cursory glance at the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches poll. Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2022 This goes on all time, as even a cursory glance at cryptocurrency news feeds will confirm. David G.w. Birch, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Unfortunately, the film only takes a cursory, superficial glance at this societal malady, as if a deeper dive would harshen the mellow of its romantic comedy. Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2022 More than 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists concur that anthropogenic temperature change is a reality, and challenges to that claim, while abundant, never stand up to even cursory examination. Nick Scott, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2022 See More Word History Etymology borrowed from Medieval Latin cursōrius "of running, swift" (Late Latin in nominal derivatives, as cursōria "shoe for running"), adjectival derivative of Latin cursor "runner" — more at cursor First Known Use 1601, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition cursory adjective cur·so·ry ˈkərs-rē ˈkər-sə-rē : done or made quickly a cursory reply cursory adjective as in hurried acting or done with excessive or careless speed your essays require more than a cursory effort at proofreading Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance hurried hasty rushed rash quick sudden impulsive drive-by rapid makeshift headlong precipitate swift reckless flying precipitous overhasty spontaneous gadarene impromptu abrupt rush helter-skelter slapdash pell-mell breakneck offhand offhanded breathtaking speedy madcap heady impatient impetuous snap unadvised off-the-cuff spur-of-the-moment horseback hotheaded headstrong Antonyms & Near Antonyms deliberate unhurried circumspect unrushed tentative prolonged measured calculated calculating extended foresighted leisurely hesitant forethoughtful slow faltering hesitating pokey drawn-out long-term poky dallying laggard dawdling shilly-shallying See More Synonym Chooser The words shallow and superficial are common synonyms of cursory. While all three words mean "lacking in depth or solidity," cursory suggests a lack of thoroughness or a neglect of details. gave the letter only a cursory reading The words shallow and cursory can be used in similar contexts, but shallow is more generally derogatory in implying lack of depth in knowledge, reasoning, emotions, or character. a light, shallow, and frivolous review The synonyms superficial and cursory are sometimes interchangeable, but superficial implies a concern only with surface aspects or obvious features. a superficial analysis of the problem
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cursory

adjective

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser