1
as in ungrateful
not showing gratitude a thankless boss who seems oblivious to the extra effort his subordinates have made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of thankless Motivational speaking is hard, often thankless work, with most practitioners scraping by in front of luncheon crowds in Holiday Inn conference rooms. Clay Risen, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025 Fillers are also critical in performing a dozen other thankless jobs to help get some of our favorite foods to the table. Ali Bouzari, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 Serving as a voluntary member of a community association’s board of directors has often been called a thankless job. Roberto C. Blanch, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025 The party has tapped freshman Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan to deliver the formal rebuttal, an often thankless task that can still elevate a junior politician’s profile. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for thankless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thankless
Adjective
  • Despite some of the noise online from rival fans calling us entitled and ungrateful, the reality is that in the stadium there has been passive acceptance for the most part.
    Rob Tanner, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Smith made out their former collaborators to be ungrateful and traitorous, and the kids weren't given the space to question her command.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a kind of magical, cinematic quality to the island, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the film and literary worlds either.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 May 2025
  • Mazi's dedication to being the best has not gone unnoticed, and the restaurant has racked up several accolades over the years, but the biggest honor is that it’s almost always packed.
    Nicole Trilivas, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • There is something shocking, almost rude, about comparing the aims of wardens and guards to those of curators and artists, but McKenzie has her reasons.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
  • But the 37-year-old doesn’t always see eye to eye with fans, at least not those who frequently heckle him, and Pham’s reaction is too often rude, crude and lewd.
    Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet, underneath the grand gestures, there’s an emotional core: a promise to heal the wounds of past heartbreak and ensure his partner never feels unappreciated again.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Even artistic geniuses like Vincent Van Gogh spent years painting works that went unappreciated and unsold in his lifetime.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Apparently, the jabs and insults from his unappreciative guest kept coming.
    Gil Macias, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Complaining about the food, comparing it to other meals, or ignoring efforts made by the host also comes across as disrespectful and unappreciative.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thankless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thankless. Accessed 14 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on thankless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!