1
as in ungrateful
not showing gratitude
a thankless boss who seems oblivious to the extra effort his subordinates have made
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
The billionaire tech and media mogul suggested earlier Thursday that Trump would not have gotten elected last fall without him and called him ungrateful.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
5 June 2025
-
The situation became even more tense when her father, who was visiting at the time, stepped in and accused her of being ungrateful.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Downtown's historic gem As tourists wander by in search of cowboy boots and a beer, the 1820s-era building at 104 Fifth Ave S. often goes unnoticed.—
Alessia Sandala,
The Tennessean,
12 July 2025
-
That rudeness did not go unnoticed, and on Swag, Justin is still airing out their arguments.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Nearly one in four Gen Z professionals viewed the thumbs-up as rude or hostile.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
Mowing during a neighbor’s party is considered rude because the noise disrupts conversation and spoils the relaxed mood.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
People feel unappreciated and lose respect for and trust in the leader.—
Harry Kraemer,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
Via Buckley, the great unappreciated thread in American conservatism may well be the Hispanic one.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Apparently, the jabs and insults from his unappreciative guest kept coming.—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
-
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 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share