dutiful

adjective

du·ti·ful | \ ˈdü-ti-fəl

How to pronounce dutiful (audio)

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

Other Words from dutiful Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about dutiful

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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 Fresh off a successful free, fair and safe election conducted with a host of temporary policies during the pandemic, Mr. Adams began the dutiful task of surveying county election administrators about the new rules. — Nick Corasaniti, New York Times, "Kentucky Becomes the Only Red State to Expand Voting Rights," 7 Apr. 2021 She’s a member of the marching band, a responsible student planning to go to college, a dutiful daughter. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "Stream “Stephanie Daley,” a Bold and Insightful Film About Teen Pregnancy," 26 Mar. 2021 May's secret activism since the coup — and her break from the role she is meant to play as a dutiful military spouse — has left her straddling two worlds in conflict. — Washington Post, "As Myanmar death toll climbs, a soldier’s wife is caught between protesters and military," 28 Feb. 2021 Regardless of whose memory is correct, our new year customs felt less like meaningful traditions, and more like dutiful afterthoughts. — Arya Roshanian, refinery29.com, "I Was 3,000 Miles Away From My Family For Nowruz, So I Created My Own Traditions," 19 Mar. 2021 Even an adviser who is a dutiful servant still has discretion in all sorts of matters — about what information to show the president, what to withhold, what advice to give, what to keep to himself. — Jay Cost, Washington Examiner, "Swamped," 21 Jan. 2021 Though the song features ample instrumentation (horns, strings, organs, Mellotron), Antonoff’s production is dutiful and restrained, comparable to the kind of caution a person might bring to a new relationship if they’d been hurt before. — Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, "The Intimacy and Comfort of Taylor Swift’s “evermore”," 14 Dec. 2020 Once ensconced, Ted meets formidable owner Rebecca Welton (a smashing Hannah Waddingham) and her dutiful, if less than savvy, minion Higgins (Jeremy Swift). — Sarah Rodman, EW.com, "Jason Sudeikis and his Ted Lasso costars on making the feel-good TV hit of 2020," 27 Nov. 2020 Henry Scobie, a dutiful, observant Roman Catholic, works as a deputy police commissioner in a small, quiet, corrupt town in West Africa in the early years of the Second World War. — Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, "Graham Greene’s Dark Heart," 15 Mar. 2021

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.

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Last Updated

11 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Dutiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dutiful. Accessed 17 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for dutiful

dutiful

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of dutiful

: doing what is expected of you

See the full definition for dutiful in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dutiful

adjective

du·ti·ful | \ ˈdü-ti-fəl

, ˈdyü- \

Kids Definition of dutiful

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

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