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

From the perspective of Nick Woltemade, their record signing, there was also another riposte to the hubbub that has surrounded his move to St James’ Park as a replacement for Alexander Isak, a task that ranks as thankless. —George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

The blocking can be a thankless job, so no divas need apply. —Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025

In thankless smaller roles, Billy Magnussen, Sarah Gadon, Lily Rabe, and Hamish Linklater play fragments of memories of people, there to enable David and Sarah to continue on their path toward self-actualization. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025

As a discipline, advertising is beset by all sorts of weird internal contradictions, although that’s probably to be expected, given the thankless job commercials are tasked with carrying out. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 Sep. 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