dutiful

adjective

du·​ti·​ful ˈdü-ti-fəl How to pronounce dutiful (audio)
 also  ˈdyü-
1
: filled with or motivated by a sense of duty
a dutiful child
2
: proceeding from or expressive of a sense of duty
a dutiful effort
dutifully adverb
dutifulness noun

Examples of dutiful in a Sentence

the dutiful way he took care of his sick mother the family showed a dutiful deference to their minister when he came to dinner
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Ralph Fiennes does most of the heavy lifting here, playing Cardinal Lawrence, a dutiful and doubting man overseeing the vote for the next pope. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024 Ever the dutiful student, Swift follows all the parameters of the assignment, yet moves like rhyming wanted with wanted come off as rookie mistakes. 233. Nate Jones, Vulture, 20 May 2024 But Denis’s new film was about an aging Black train conductor living on the outskirts of Paris, who gently pressures his too dutiful daughter to leave their apartment and live her own life. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2024 Ralph Fiennes does most of the heavy lifting, playing a dutiful and doubting man overseeing the vote. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dutiful 

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dutiful was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near dutiful

Cite this Entry

“Dutiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dutiful. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dutiful

adjective
du·​ti·​ful ˈd(y)üt-i-fəl How to pronounce dutiful (audio)
: having or showing a sense of duty
dutifully adverb
dutifulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dutiful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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