ungrateful

adjective

un·​grate·​ful ˌən-ˈgrāt-fəl How to pronounce ungrateful (audio)
Synonyms of ungratefulnext
1
: showing no gratitude
an ungrateful child
2
: disagreeable
also : thankless
an ungrateful task
3
: offensive to the senses
an ungrateful stench
ungratefully
ˌən-ˈgrāt-fə-lē How to pronounce ungrateful (audio)
adverb
ungratefulness noun

Synonyms of ungrateful

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Examples of ungrateful in a Sentence

I don't mean to seem ungrateful. the park's custodial staff has the ungrateful job of cleaning up after the Independence Day party is over
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That suggests that my miss tends to be ungrateful. — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 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 Black Hawks management responded by insulting him in the press, portraying Abel as an ungrateful prima donna. — Michael J. Socolow, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ungrateful

Word History

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ungrateful was in 1533

Rhymes for ungrateful

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Browse Nearby Words

ungrasped
ungrateful
ungratefulness
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Cite this Entry

“Ungrateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ungrateful. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ungrateful

adjective
un·​grate·​ful ˌən-ˈgrāt-fəl How to pronounce ungrateful (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not thankful for favors
an ungrateful child
2
: not pleasing : disagreeable
an ungrateful task
ungratefully
-fə-lē How to pronounce ungrateful (audio)
adverb
ungratefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ungrateful

Nglish: Translation of ungrateful for Spanish Speakers

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