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

Citing Netflix's decision to continue to work with Dave Chappelle, 52, despite the comedian's anti-trans jokes , Maron said the streamer was only dutiful to its bottom line. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025

Hansen portrayed himself as a dutiful husband and father and later claimed that his wife was unaware of his crimes. —Caroline Blair, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Ruth knew the community said the same thing—anyone reading the New Testament out loud said the same thing—and were dutiful in concern for all those implicated in both beatitudes and the Civil Rights Act. —Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025

Right staffing: recruiting entrepreneurial staff, not dutiful rule-followers. —Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 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