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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of thankless
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
Working in restaurants is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing and often thankless work.
—Jonathan Deutsch, The Conversation, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thankless
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
Working in restaurants is physically, mentally and emotionally taxing and often thankless work.
—Jonathan Deutsch, The Conversation, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thankless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thankless
Adjective
-
On someone else, this nonchalance could seem ungrateful.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Every year, the Texas matriarch organizes her schedule around making the holidays amazing for her ungrateful adult kids and husband.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The site functions as a public service that allows the creator to stay mentally engaged while identifying trends and connections between stories that might otherwise go unnoticed by those too busy to consume multiple news sources.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The shift has not gone unnoticed by residents — and not all of them view it the same way.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Rain, April’s rude house guest, visits erratically and unannounced.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Some lawyers think a video shows a Texas judge being rude to an IT worker.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Until and unless more people, like Hyde, recognize their own connections to child care, the vast network of parents, kids and caregivers will remain unappreciated and under-resourced.—
Shay Castle,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
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While wildfires and hurricanes grab headlines, another type of severe weather may present unappreciated risks for homeowners and insurers.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Apparently, the jabs and insults from his unappreciative guest kept coming.—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Thankless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thankless. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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