thankless

adjective

thank·​less ˈthaŋk-ləs 

1

: not likely to obtain thanks : unappreciated

a thankless task

2

: not expressing or feeling gratitude : ungrateful

how sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child

—William Shakespeare

thanklessly adverb

thanklessness noun

Synonyms

• ungrateful
• rude
• unappreciative

Examples of thankless in a Sentence

a thankless boss who seems oblivious to the extra effort his subordinates have made

the thankless job of cleaning up after a party

Recent Examples on the Web

Rebooting a horror franchise is a thankless task that usually fails, but 2022's resuscitation of meta-horror series Scream hit all the right notes. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 June 2025

Meanwhile, Byrd’s wide dramatic palette and flexible voice make the most of thankless roles as the movement’s deserter and Montgomery’s white power brokers. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025

The rest of the cast does their best to rise — or descend — to the occasion, with Sedgwick quite good in her largely thankless role as the controlling Jewish mother. —Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025

Internet skewers courtroom sketches: 'A different vibe' Being the only window to the trial is apparently a thankless job, though, as many people online have ripped into the images coming out of the courtroom. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 20 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

thankless

adjective

thank·​less ˈthaŋ-kləs 

1

: not appreciated by others

a thankless job

2

: not showing or feeling gratitude

thanklessly adverb

thanklessness noun