ungrateful

adjective

un·​grate·​ful ˌən-ˈgrāt-fəl 

1

: showing no gratitude : making a poor return

an ungrateful child

2

: disagreeable

also : thankless

ungratefully

ˌən-ˈgrāt-fə-lē 

adverb

ungratefulness noun

Synonyms

• thankless
• unappreciated

Examples of ungrateful in a Sentence

I don't mean to seem ungrateful.

the park's custodial staff has the ungrateful job of cleaning up after the Independence Day party is over

Recent Examples on the Web

To the undocumented people who were and are my friends, my classmates, my interns and co-workers: Thank you for teaching me that citizenship is usually wasted on the ungrateful and not granted enough to those who deserve it. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024

Your mother weaponizes family loyalty to maintain her emotional abuse, knowing that cultural expectations will paint you as the 'ungrateful child' for setting boundaries. —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024

But for years, critiquing aspects of fame has been a pretty reliable way of getting a singer dragged as ungrateful or unfit to be famous. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2024

Lorde’s actions were criticized as cringy, arrogant, or ungrateful. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ungrateful

adjective

un·​grate·​ful ˌən-ˈgrāt-fəl 

ˈən-

1

: not thankful for favors

an ungrateful child

2

: not pleasing : disagreeable

an ungrateful task

ungratefully

-fə-lē 

adverb

ungratefulness noun