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

Sad there are so many ungrateful people out there. — hollabackgirl (@YoBunny19) February 19, 2025 Unironically, Taylor Swift and KC played a role in getting the Salary Cap increase. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2025

And now you will be forever tarred as an ungrateful Negative Nancy! —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 Feb. 2025

The most concrete result of therapy has been Milena’s acknowledgment that childbirth was an agonizing experience; her slow-burning resentment of the ungrateful twins has been building ever since. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2025

But there’s more to the story than the ungrateful teen realizes. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ungrateful

• fateful
• grateful
• hateful

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