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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Her performance is uncanny, though the conception and function of the character — a mentally ill innocent who mostly sets other performers and society into relief — is thankless and the film’s weakest link. Vadim Rizov, IndieWire, 16 May 2026 If vice president of operations Chip Conway, a tireless worker in a thankless job, books the wrong hotel he will likely be forced to run back to Denver. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 15 May 2026 Other DNIs have been the object of both scorn and indifference in a thankless job. Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2026 Willy laments to his stout and thankless wife, Linda (Laurie Metcalf, upholding her reputation as a Broadway MVP), that buyers on the road laugh at him — that one even called him a shrimp. Naveen Kumar, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thankless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thankless
Adjective
  • In Seasons 1-4, that vicar is Sidney Chambers (James Norton), a jazz enthusiast plagued by memories of WWII who offers unsolicited insights to gruff and initially ungrateful Det.
    Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • That suggests that my miss tends to be ungrateful.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Adjective
  • For perpetrators, upskirting is a crime committed in seconds, often unnoticed.
    Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
  • This launch coincides with widespread, often unnoticed, AI integration by Google and OpenAI into business tools.
    TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.
    Claudia Fisher, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026
  • Many of these terms were meant as insults and were – and remain today – tremendously rude, but others reflect the bewilderment of trying to categorize people who don’t fit into standard categories easily.
    Ky Merkley, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • In other words, there’s no such thing as a sure thing for Gable, despite his long-running reputation as an incredible in-ring performer and one of WWE’s most underrated and unappreciated stars.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Rogie Vachon—Perhaps the most unappreciated goalie in NHL history and the first great player in Kings history.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • Him: Your husband is selfish, inconsiderate, unappreciative, and arrogant.
    Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
  • Campbell can actually be spotted in a photo at the beginning of the teaser trailer for Send Help (embedded below), as an unappreciative Bradley throws the picture of his parents (the father is Campbell) in a trash can.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Thankless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thankless. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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