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
The energy burst obliterated AL (into a sperm and egg that the dutiful cleaner robot swept up), while Fifteen as a Time Lord was able to absorb the part of the blast directed at Belinda.
—
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 12 Apr. 2025
With numinous Neptune officially transiting your dutiful sixth house of health, work, routines and day-to-day affairs, your lifestyle is evolving.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Britain’s rules governing metal detecting require dutiful adherence to reporting requirements, with potential legal consequences for failing to do so.
—Ali Watkins, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
After making her small screen debut aged eight, a 14-year-old Knightley entered the big leagues in George Lucas’s sci-fi epic, as a dutiful handmaiden to the pale-faced queen (Natalie Portman), who serves as her steely decoy.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dutiful
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Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 12 Apr. 2025
With numinous Neptune officially transiting your dutiful sixth house of health, work, routines and day-to-day affairs, your lifestyle is evolving.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Britain’s rules governing metal detecting require dutiful adherence to reporting requirements, with potential legal consequences for failing to do so.
—Ali Watkins, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
After making her small screen debut aged eight, a 14-year-old Knightley entered the big leagues in George Lucas’s sci-fi epic, as a dutiful handmaiden to the pale-faced queen (Natalie Portman), who serves as her steely decoy.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 26 Mar. 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 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dutiful
adjective
du·ti·ful
ˈd(y)üt-i-fəl
: having or showing a sense of duty
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