dutiful

adjective

du·​ti·​ful ˈdü-ti-fəl 

 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

ˈd(y)ü-ti-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

dutifulness

ˈd(y)ü-ti-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• deferent
• deferential
• regardful
• respectful

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

Adan Manzano, an anchor and sports reporter for Telemundo Kansas City, was a dutiful father and rising talent who came to the U.S. from Mexico to study and fulfill his dream of sports reporting, Ely Martinez, the station's creative services director, told NBC News in Spanish. —Daniella Silva, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2025

The Thursday, March 13 episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter saw the dutiful dad visiting an attorney's office to find out the legal options for having his wife, Kristina Shirley, adopt his 16-year-old daughter, Leah. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025

Carrigan plays the dutiful, largely silent family servant in the movie. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025

Millions of dutiful, hardworking Americans are arbitrarily losing their careers (some are getting them back, some are losing them again), leaving the rest of us frighteningly less secure on countless levels. —Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dutiful

• undutiful

Kids Definition

dutiful

adjective

du·​ti·​ful ˈd(y)üt-i-fəl 

: having or showing a sense of duty

dutifully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

dutifulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun