as in ungrateful
not showing gratitude
vowed that his unappreciative niece would never receive another birthday present from him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 unappreciative
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
On the comic side, Stephen Graham and current Oscar lightning rod Andrea Riseborough are absolutely delightful as Matilda's horrible and unappreciative parents.
—Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2023
As for Erin, at the start of the film her character comes across as one of the worst dramatic cliches: the unappreciative, nagging spouse.
—Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023
The cautionary word, however, is that humans are prone to what’s called hedonic adaptation, which basically translates to a tendency to revert back to our old – and in this case, unappreciative – ways.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 23 Nov. 2021
The Leadership Development Institute’s research found that the most common behavioral triggers for negative emotional responses in the workplace were perceiving others as unreliable, unappreciative, micro-managing, abrasive, hostile, overly analytical, aloof, self-centered, or untrustworthy.
—Tony Gambill, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2021
No one would blame you for ceasing your generous practices altogether for those relatives who are clearly unappreciative.
—Washington Post, 29 May 2021
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
On the comic side, Stephen Graham and current Oscar lightning rod Andrea Riseborough are absolutely delightful as Matilda's horrible and unappreciative parents.
—Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2023
As for Erin, at the start of the film her character comes across as one of the worst dramatic cliches: the unappreciative, nagging spouse.
—Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023
The cautionary word, however, is that humans are prone to what’s called hedonic adaptation, which basically translates to a tendency to revert back to our old – and in this case, unappreciative – ways.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 23 Nov. 2021
The Leadership Development Institute’s research found that the most common behavioral triggers for negative emotional responses in the workplace were perceiving others as unreliable, unappreciative, micro-managing, abrasive, hostile, overly analytical, aloof, self-centered, or untrustworthy.
—Tony Gambill, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2021
No one would blame you for ceasing your generous practices altogether for those relatives who are clearly unappreciative.
—Washington Post, 29 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unappreciative
Adjective
-
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,
Literary Hub,
13 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The orderly, progressive, and highly institutionalized blending of electoral politics with stable administrative states that dominated Western European and American politics for the past half century shares little with this rude and revolutionary force.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Audrey and Eli’s first meeting is a contentious one, with accusations and rude words and eventually pieces of fruit getting thrown around in all directions.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unappreciative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unappreciative. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
