thankless

[ thangk-lis ]

adjective

1. not likely to be appreciated or rewarded; unappreciated:

   a thankless job.

   Synonyms: profitless, unrewarding, unacknowledged, vain

2. not feeling or expressing gratitude or appreciation; ungrateful:

   a thankless child.

thankless

/ ˈθæŋklɪs /

adjective

1. receiving no thanks or appreciation

   a thankless job

2. ungrateful

   a thankless pupil

Derived Forms

• ˈthanklessness, noun
• ˈthanklessly, adverb

Other Words From

• thankless·ly adverb
• thankless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thankless¹

First recorded in 1530–40; thank + -less

Example Sentences

On January 2, 1958, a minor official at the Rome Opera House bore the thankless task of announcing bad news to the audience: Maria Callas had left the building.

From Salon

Biden handed her the thankless task of attempting to curb illegal immigration by tackling the “root causes” of the northward exodus from Latin America.

From Los Angeles Times

And it’s a thankless deal with some of these injuries.”

From Los Angeles Times

I just called my agent and I said, ‘Get me something thankless.’

From Los Angeles Times

Czar or otherwise, the job was a daunting, thankless task.

From BBC

Related Words

• fruitless
• futile
• unpleasant