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
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
When responses lag or feel dutiful rather than enthusiastic, they're already mentally checked out.
—
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Or a group of high-minded, dutiful, quite-conscientious California voters?
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
The audience at the Grand Palais rewarded Hüller’s performance as the dutiful daughter of a post-war German literary genius with a 5-minute standing ovation, by Variety‘s count.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 14 May 2026
But overall, the dutiful Queen seemed to loosen up in the more casual America.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dutiful
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Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Or a group of high-minded, dutiful, quite-conscientious California voters?
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
The audience at the Grand Palais rewarded Hüller’s performance as the dutiful daughter of a post-war German literary genius with a 5-minute standing ovation, by Variety‘s count.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 14 May 2026
But overall, the dutiful Queen seemed to loosen up in the more casual America.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dutiful
Cite this Entry
“Dutiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dutiful. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dutiful
adjective
du·ti·ful
ˈd(y)üt-i-fəl
: having or showing a sense of duty
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