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 Offensive linemen have the most thankless job in the NFL. Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 Some issues have yet to be resolved — like whether Noah Wyle’s Dr. Robby has the mental capacity to continue his thankless job as the attending physician, if Patrick Ball’s Langdon deserves to keep his job and whether Katherine LaNasa’s Dana has worked her last day as the unofficial den mother. Lynette Rice, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for thankless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thankless
Adjective
  • This list is full of difficult moms who try their best for their ungrateful kids, and Lois is at the top.
    Marianne Eloise, Vulture, 10 May 2025
  • In the first, Trump treated a moral hero as an ungrateful scoundrel.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Researchers believe many cases go unnoticed because the condition is harmless.
    Brandi Jones, Health, 23 May 2025
  • The approach works by analyzing energy usage patterns across multiple data points and identifying inefficiencies that might otherwise go unnoticed—especially when left to humans alone.
    David Ly, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Proctor sent a series of rude, lewd and unprofessional text messages about Read and the investigation, which led to his firing.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
  • There was also a three-homer game for Pablo Sandoval in the 2012 World Series, but it’s considered rude to talk about that in 2025.
    Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Cinderella roommate may start to feel invisible, unappreciated and exhausted—emotionally and physically.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • 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
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 28 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!