ungrateful

adjective

un·​grate·​ful ˌən-ˈgrāt-fəl How to pronounce ungrateful (audio)
Synonyms of ungratefulnext
1
: showing no gratitude
an ungrateful child
2
: disagreeable
also : thankless
an ungrateful task
3
: offensive to the senses
an ungrateful stench
ungratefully adverb
ungratefulness noun

Examples of ungrateful in a Sentence

I don't mean to seem ungrateful. the park's custodial staff has the ungrateful job of cleaning up after the Independence Day party is over
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.
There has been a lot of talk about families going no contact –– it has been described as a rising trend of ungrateful adult children being cruel to aging parents or a younger generation setting boundaries with parents unwilling to treat their children with respect. Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 10 May 2026 On someone else, this nonchalance could seem ungrateful. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026 Every year, the Texas matriarch organizes her schedule around making the holidays amazing for her ungrateful adult kids and husband. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025 At the opposite end of the personality spectrum from Anne, Mary is described as spoiled and ungrateful. Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ungrateful

Word History

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ungrateful was in 1533

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Cite this Entry

“Ungrateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ungrateful. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

ungrateful

adjective
un·​grate·​ful ˌən-ˈgrāt-fəl How to pronounce ungrateful (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not thankful for favors
an ungrateful child
2
: not pleasing : disagreeable
an ungrateful task
ungratefully adverb
ungratefulness noun

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