dutiful
adjective
du·ti·ful
ˈdü-ti-fəl 
also ˈdyü-
1
: filled with or motivated by a sense of duty
a dutiful child
2
: proceeding from or expressive of a sense of duty
a dutiful effort
Examples of dutiful in a Sentence
the dutiful way he took care of his sick mother
the family showed a dutiful deference to their minister when he came to dinner
Recent Examples on the Web
When Mercury and Mars move into adventurous Sagittarius and your dutiful sixth house, the mood shifts toward productivity and purification.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
What Hulu did years ago with its Castle Rock series, remixing different threads across King’s universe with a playful wink, Welcome to Derry approaches with a dutiful studiousness that drains it of fun.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Still, Ekwonu said Sunday after the contest that there were issues along the unit that even the most dutiful observers couldn’t see.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Because, in fact, I am usually immediately swayed by whatever intellectual fashion is in the air, and a first draft of any essay is more often than not a cynical and dutiful rehashing of the argument du jour.
—Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dutiful
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Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
What Hulu did years ago with its Castle Rock series, remixing different threads across King’s universe with a playful wink, Welcome to Derry approaches with a dutiful studiousness that drains it of fun.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Still, Ekwonu said Sunday after the contest that there were issues along the unit that even the most dutiful observers couldn’t see.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Because, in fact, I am usually immediately swayed by whatever intellectual fashion is in the air, and a first draft of any essay is more often than not a cynical and dutiful rehashing of the argument du jour.
—Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dutiful
Cite this Entry
“Dutiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dutiful. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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dutiful
adjective
du·ti·ful
ˈd(y)üt-i-fəl
: having or showing a sense of duty
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