thankless

adjective

thank·​less ˈthaŋk-ləs How to pronounce thankless (audio)
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 childWilliam Shakespeare
thanklessly adverb
thanklessness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for thankless

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thankless was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Thankless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thankless. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

thankless

adjective
thank·​less ˈthaŋ-kləs How to pronounce thankless (audio)
1
: not appreciated by others
a thankless job
2
: not showing or feeling gratitude
thanklessly adverb
thanklessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on thankless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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