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

Being a backup goalkeeper is a difficult and generally thankless job. —Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 11 June 2025

His ex-wife, Amber-Linn (Judy Greer, queen of the thankless wife and mother roles), is trying to sell their house, after giving Pryce two years to move out. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 June 2025

And then came Mohajir — talented, experienced, ambitious — but immediately saddled with the thankless gig of replacing White. —Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 May 2025

As the engagement proceeds at dizzyingly rapid speed, Etheldreda discovers a sordid secret within the royal family, leaving her to choose between the security she's yearned for and the well-being of her thankless stepdaughter. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 13 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