1
as in ungrateful
not showing gratitude
a thankless boss who seems oblivious to the extra effort his subordinates have made
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unnoticed
not likely to be appreciated by those who benefit
the thankless job of cleaning up after a party
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thankless
Aside from Taylor, who feels essential to any future for this play, the other very notable performance comes from Griggs, in something of a thankless role.
—
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
From trad wives to spin classes to caregiving, Smithuijsen reveals how late stage capitalism strips women of agency and traps them in endless cycles of empty consumption and thankless labor.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
For the thankless task of straight man, Reiner won two Emmys.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 29 Dec. 2025
The comedian joked that the middle phase of life is largely thankless.
—Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thankless
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
From trad wives to spin classes to caregiving, Smithuijsen reveals how late stage capitalism strips women of agency and traps them in endless cycles of empty consumption and thankless labor.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
For the thankless task of straight man, Reiner won two Emmys.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 29 Dec. 2025
The comedian joked that the middle phase of life is largely thankless.
—Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thankless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thankless
Adjective
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There has been a lot of talk about families going no contact –– it has been described as a rising trend of ungrateful adult children being cruel to aging parents or a younger generation setting boundaries with parents unwilling to treat their children with respect.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
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On someone else, this nonchalance could seem ungrateful.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Some in Labour say the government's achievements, including protections for renters and a higher minimum wage, are going unnoticed.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
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Billions pass through the human body every second unnoticed.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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If Pan American Airways represented, at its height, victory and suavity, the country achieving a kind of European state of grace, then Spirit was the exact opposite—synonymous with the rowdy and the rude at the heart of the American character.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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But please don’t be that rude person calling over and over to someone who is not available at the time.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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But that makes Buzz feel unappreciated and the two friends soon clash over who has been deputized to save the day.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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The baseball world was saddened last week on the news that Davey Lopes, a most unappreciated mainstay Dodger second baseman in the ‘70s, passed away Wednesday at 80 from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Campbell can actually be spotted in a photo at the beginning of the teaser trailer for Send Help (embedded below), as an unappreciative Bradley throws the picture of his parents (the father is Campbell) in a trash can.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Apparently, the jabs and insults from his unappreciative guest kept coming.—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Thankless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thankless. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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