Thankless: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a task or job that does not receive gratitude or appreciation, often implying it's hard or unrewarding.

• She took on the thankless task of cleaning up after the event

Used to describe someone who not only lacks gratitude but may also show a negative attitude toward kindness or help received. This word carries a negative connotation.

• The children were ungrateful, complaining about their gifts instead of saying thank you

Used when someone does not show gratitude or recognize the value of something they received. Typically applied to people's attitudes.

• He was unappreciative of all the effort she put into organizing the party

Similar to 'ungrateful', but might be considered slightly less strong. It is still used to describe a lack of gratitude and can carry a mild negative connotation.

• He remained unthankful despite all the support he received during his difficult times

Used when describing a task or job that is difficult and unrewarding, often because people do not recognize or appreciate the effort involved. This term usually carries a negative connotation.

• Being a referee is often a thankless job because no one appreciates your effort unless you make a mistake.
• Cleaning up after an event can feel like a thankless task since most people don't notice the hard work.

Describes work or an activity that does not provide satisfaction, fulfillment, or financial benefit. This term also carries a negative connotation.

• Many find customer service work to be unrewarding due to the low pay and high stress levels.
• Spending hours in traffic can be an unrewarding experience with no clear benefits.

Describes a situation where someone's efforts, skills, or talents are not recognized or valued by others. This term may also have a negative connotation.

• Volunteers often feel unappreciated despite their significant contributions to the community.
• She felt her efforts at work went unappreciated by her colleagues.

Refers to a person or their efforts not being acknowledged or identified by others. This can happen in various contexts and usually implies a sense of being overlooked.

• His contributions to the project remained unrecognized by the management team.
• The artist's work went unrecognized until many years after their death.