thankless
adjective
thank·less
ˈthaŋk-ləs 
1
: not likely to obtain thanks : unappreciated
a thankless task
2
: not expressing or feeling gratitude : ungrateful
how sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
thanklessly
adverb
thanklessness
noun
Examples of thankless in a Sentence
a thankless boss who seems oblivious to the extra effort his subordinates have made
the thankless job of cleaning up after a party
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, Byrd’s wide dramatic palette and flexible voice make the most of thankless roles as the movement’s deserter and Montgomery’s white power brokers.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
The rest of the cast does their best to rise — or descend — to the occasion, with Sedgwick quite good in her largely thankless role as the controlling Jewish mother.
—Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Internet skewers courtroom sketches: 'A different vibe' Being the only window to the trial is apparently a thankless job, though, as many people online have ripped into the images coming out of the courtroom.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 20 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for thankless
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Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
The rest of the cast does their best to rise — or descend — to the occasion, with Sedgwick quite good in her largely thankless role as the controlling Jewish mother.
—Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Internet skewers courtroom sketches: 'A different vibe' Being the only window to the trial is apparently a thankless job, though, as many people online have ripped into the images coming out of the courtroom.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 20 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for thankless
Cite this Entry
“Thankless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thankless. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thankless
adjective
thank·less
ˈthaŋ-kləs
1
: not appreciated by others
a thankless job
2
: not showing or feeling gratitude
thanklessly
adverb
thanklessness
noun
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