1
as in ungrateful
not showing gratitude
a thankless boss who seems oblivious to the extra effort his subordinates have made
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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
Indeed, figuring out where the rapturous, realistic Carpathian geography ends and the effects wizardry begins is something of a thankless (and, to be honest, buzzkilly) endeavor.
—
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Here, 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
The job of athletic director can be a thankless one.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2025
Rebooting a horror franchise is a thankless task that usually fails, but 2022's resuscitation of meta-horror series Scream hit all the right notes.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for thankless
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Here, 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
The job of athletic director can be a thankless one.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2025
Rebooting a horror franchise is a thankless task that usually fails, but 2022's resuscitation of meta-horror series Scream hit all the right notes.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for thankless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thankless
Adjective
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Despite humanity's poor treatment of them, our mutant heroes are still willing to risk their lives to save an ungrateful humanity.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 July 2025
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To Tess, her daughter is self-centered, ungrateful and way too loud.—
Kirk Honeycutt,
HollywoodReporter,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Either way, these conversations reveal strengths that otherwise go unnoticed and let your team know their growth is on your radar, even if a formal opportunity isn’t open yet.—
Beth Forester,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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Until now, there was no centralized system in place to prevent double billing, which enabled overpayments to go unnoticed.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Some posed for photos, others made rude gestures, and many simply stared.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
27 July 2025
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The movie’s off-color humor wouldn’t fly today, but its rebellious spirit remains hilariously defiant — a refreshingly rude retort to the niceties of family films and their cringey feel-good messages.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Waupun mayor: Prison guards go unappreciated Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop blames news media for recruiting and retention challenges, saying coverage disproportionately scrutinizes officers without recognizing their difficult jobs.—
Mario Koran,
jsonline.com,
12 July 2025
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Via Buckley, the great unappreciated thread in American conservatism may well be the Hispanic one.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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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 7 Aug. 2025.
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