dutiful

adjective du·ti·ful \ ˈdü-ti-fəl also ˈdyü- \

Definition of dutiful

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

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dutifully

play \-f(ə-)lē\ adverb

—

dutifulness

play \-fəl-nəs\ noun

See dutiful defined for English-language learners

See dutiful defined for kids

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 of dutiful from the Web

But the boy later plays his dutiful role in a macabre roadside ambush, donning animal skins to lure a passing couple into a grisly trap.

— stephen dalton, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Leatherface': Film Review | FrightFest 2017," 26 Aug. 2017
Add being a dutiful big sister to Blue Ivy‘s budding resume, which already includes being a rapper and future style icon.

— rose minutaglio, PEOPLE.com, "Blue Ivy Is Helping Mom Beyoncé with New Twins: ‘She’s the Best Big Sister,’ Says Source," 19 Aug. 2017
As a dutiful son, Bush also made 11 visits to his parents' house in Kennebunkport, Maine, which Knoller says spanned all or part of 43 days.

— cleveland.com, "Presidential vacations: Which commander in chief took the most time off?," 9 Aug. 2017
According to WIRED, his talk was preceded by this inane brow-beating from a dutiful congressional lackey: To record today’s session would be such a breach of trust, [in] my opinion.

— jay willis, GQ, "Jared Kushner's Strategy for Brokering Middle East Peace: Ignore Facts, Hope for the Best," 1 Aug. 2017
This won’t come as a surprise to fans of Game of Thrones, the show that features the 38-year-old actor as the dutiful and fearless warrior Brienne of Tarth.

— tufayel ahmed, MSNBC Newsweek, "'Game of Thrones': What's Next for Westeros, Gwendoline Christie and Her Empowering Brienne of Tarth," 10 July 2017
This won’t come as a surprise to fans of Game of Thrones, the show that features the 38-year-old actor as the dutiful and fearless warrior Brienne of Tarth.

— tufayel ahmed, Newsweek, "'Game of Thrones:' What's Next for Westeros, Gwendoline Christie and Her Empowering Brienne of Tarth," 10 July 2017
A new powertrain with an adept V-6 and a dutiful eight-speed automatic transmission provide composed cruising and potent passing.

— eric stafford, Car and Driver, "2017 Toyota Sienna," 29 June 2017
The Republican Party has long been a dutiful defender of any form of government welfare that benefits the powerful.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Housing Cuts Spare the One Program He Profits From," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dutiful.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dutiful

1552

dutiful Synonyms

Synonyms

deferent, deferential, respectful, regardful

Antonyms

disrespectful, undutiful

Related Words

reverent, reverential, venerating, worshipful; fawning, genuflecting, groveling (or grovelling), hagiographic (or hagiographical), kowtowing, obsequious, servile, subservient, sycophantic, toadying; civil, courteous, gracious, polite; kid-glove, kid-gloved

Near Antonyms

abusive, insulting, offensive; belittling, demeaning, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disparaging; contemptuous, impudent, irreverent, scornful; discourteous, insolent, rude, uncivil

DUTIFUL Defined for English Language Learners

dutiful

adjective

Definition of dutiful for English Language Learners

: doing what is expected of you

DUTIFUL Defined for Kids

dutiful

adjective du·ti·ful \ ˈdü-ti-fəl , ˈdyü- \

Definition of dutiful for Students

:doing or showing the willingness to do what is expected or required

a dutiful child

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dutifully

\-fə-lē\ adverb

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Examples of dutiful in a Sentence

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First Known Use of dutiful

dutiful Synonyms

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DUTIFUL Defined for English Language Learners

dutiful

Definition of dutiful for English Language Learners

DUTIFUL Defined for Kids

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dutifully

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