thankless
adjective
thank·less
ˈthaŋk-ləs 
1
: not likely to obtain thanks : unappreciated
a thankless task
2
: not expressing or feeling gratitude : ungrateful
how sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
thanklessly
adverb
thanklessness
noun
Examples of thankless in a Sentence
a thankless boss who seems oblivious to the extra effort his subordinates have made
the thankless job of cleaning up after a party
Recent Examples on the Web
The forums held in progressive-leaning cities within Republican districts were thankless.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
One running theme: Serving on a board is a grueling, thankless job, and also, serving on a board is a gateway to megalomania, corruption, and petty infighting.
—Curbed Editors, Curbed, 19 Aug. 2025
The same goes for Hauser’s thankless role as Ed Hocken Jr., who plays straight man to Frank’s self-serious dimwit, when the writers remember to include him.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025
Whitaker, meanwhile, has a thankless role as an empath whose narrative function flips between making improbable, almost psychic pronouncements, and stating the painfully obvious.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for thankless
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Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
One running theme: Serving on a board is a grueling, thankless job, and also, serving on a board is a gateway to megalomania, corruption, and petty infighting.
—Curbed Editors, Curbed, 19 Aug. 2025
The same goes for Hauser’s thankless role as Ed Hocken Jr., who plays straight man to Frank’s self-serious dimwit, when the writers remember to include him.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025
Whitaker, meanwhile, has a thankless role as an empath whose narrative function flips between making improbable, almost psychic pronouncements, and stating the painfully obvious.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for thankless
Cite this Entry
“Thankless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thankless. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thankless
adjective
thank·less
ˈthaŋ-kləs
1
: not appreciated by others
a thankless job
2
: not showing or feeling gratitude
thanklessly
adverb
thanklessness
noun
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