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

dutifully

ˈd(y)ü-ti-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

dutifulness

ˈd(y)ü-ti-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• respectful
• deferent

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

Jess’s parasocial fixation culminates in some pat feminist revelations that struck me as at once dutiful and a little too online. —Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 July 2025

Maybe that’s why this latest swing into Greenwich Village comes off as dutiful and perfunctory. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 2 May 2025

Spots is canine loyalty personified, and Schreiber voices the role like a dutiful soldier. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025

Then, as the moon reaches its peak in Sagittarius on June 11, your dutiful sixth house of health, routines and acts of service are highlighted, pushing you to examine everything from your day-to-day tasks to your work-life balance. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dutiful

• undutiful

Kids Definition

dutiful

adjective

du·​ti·​ful ˈd(y)üt-i-fəl 

: having or showing a sense of duty

dutifully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

dutifulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun