Definition of ungratefulnext
1
as in unnoticed
not likely to be appreciated by those who benefit the park's custodial staff has the ungrateful job of cleaning up after the Independence Day party is over

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2
as in rude
not showing gratitude although the food was being provided for free, the ungrateful recipients could not refrain from complaining that it was not to their liking

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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 ungrateful Unless these ungrateful, unassimilated America-haters commit certain crimes, we’re stuck with them. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025 For many attorneys, the grind of endless deadlines, paperwork, and ungrateful clients can lead to heavy disappointment. Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025 Anything else feels ungrateful. Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Faring even worse is Clara, thinly rendered as an ungrateful child and an obstacle for her mother. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ungrateful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungrateful
Adjective
  • Flory Bidunga’s emergence as an impactful shot blocker has not gone unnoticed by his Kansas men’s basketball teammates.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Peterson’s faith in the core group didn’t go unnoticed.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • To do so would be rude, politically perilous, insulting to our biggest trade partner and just plain weird.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The interactions would last 30 seconds, maybe, and no one was rude.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • From the days of colonists and pirates to the more modern era (of, say, bankers and lawyers servicing offshore corporations), its touristic charms have gone largely unappreciated.
    John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Her excellent work goes unappreciated, except when a conniving colleague, Donovan (Xavier Samuel), takes credit for it.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • From trad wives to spin classes to caregiving, Smithuijsen reveals how late stage capitalism strips women of agency and traps them in endless cycles of empty consumption and thankless labor.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
  • For the thankless task of straight man, Reiner won two Emmys.
    Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 29 Dec. 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
Adjective
  • Karlsson was on the wrong side of the puck all evening, made careless decisions and generally played a thoughtless game.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Facing the prospect of a return to normalcy, and perhaps emboldened by Yaya’s thoughtless offer to hire Agnes as her assistant, Agnes picks up a rock and prepares to murder the model with it.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ungrateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungrateful. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

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