thankless

[thangk-lis]

adjective

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

   a thankless job.

   Synonyms: profitless, unrewarding, vain, unacknowledged

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

Other Word Forms

• thanklessly adverb
• thanklessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thankless¹

First recorded in 1530–40; thank + -less

Example Sentences

“We recognize that this charge is compounded by technological developments such as social media, which transcend the geographic boundaries of the school. It is a thankless task for which we are all indebted.”

From Salon

“I’m surprised by that amount of money, and it just goes to show that even though teaching is a thankless job, the students are craving and grateful for a role model.”

From Los Angeles Times

It’s grueling and thankless work, but it feeds her impoverished family.

From Salon

As we watched the German detectives packing away it felt like the spring of hope of a resolution that had bubbled up in June 2020 was evaporating in the thankless heat.

From BBC

The rest of the cast does their best to rise — or descend — to the occasion, with Sedgwick quite good in her largely thankless role as the controlling Jewish mother.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fruitless 
• futile 
• unpleasant