1
as in ungrateful
not showing gratitude a thankless boss who seems oblivious to the extra effort his subordinates have made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 thankless Hosting award shows is one of Hollywood’s most thankless jobs, but comedian Nikki Glaser appeared to strike all the right notes with Golden Globes viewers. Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025 What likely made general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott jump for Sanders at 41st overall was his desire for the often thankless work of stonewalling runners. Tim Graham, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025 Munir may be vaccinating chickens rather than grabbing them on their way to slaughter, but the work is just as thankless and cruel. Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025 Offensive linemen have the most thankless job in the NFL. Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for thankless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thankless
Adjective
  • The billionaire tech and media mogul suggested earlier Thursday that Trump would not have gotten elected last fall without him and called him ungrateful.
    Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 5 June 2025
  • The situation became even more tense when her father, who was visiting at the time, stepped in and accused her of being ungrateful.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • This undervaluation has not gone unnoticed by savvy investors, such as the Oracle of Omaha.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 30 June 2025
  • Finally, the emotional weight of a personal injury case often goes unnoticed and can lead to constant stress from not knowing what the next day will look like.
    Mark Berookim, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Nearly one in four Gen Z professionals viewed the thumbs-up as rude or hostile.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • This strikes me as rude and short-sighted (no pun intended).
    R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Via Buckley, the great unappreciated thread in American conservatism may well be the Hispanic one.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
  • People feel unappreciated and lose respect for and trust in the leader.
    Harry Kraemer, Forbes.com, 24 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thankless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thankless. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on thankless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!