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Webster 1913 Edition


Thankless

Thank′less

,
Adj.
1.
Not acknowledging favors; not expressing thankfulness; unthankful; ungrateful.
That she may feel
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a
thankless
child!
Shakespeare
2.
Not obtaining or deserving thanks; unacceptable;
as, a
thankless
task
.
To shepherd
thankless
, but by thieves that love the night allowed.
Chapman.
Thank′less-ly
(#)
,
adv.
Thank′less-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Thankless

THANK'LESS

,
Adj.
Unthankful; ungrateful; not acknowledging favors.
That she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child.
1.
Not deserving thanks, or not likely to gain thanks; as a thankless office.

Definition 2024


thankless

thankless

English

Adjective

thankless (not comparable)

  1. (of a task) not appreciated or rewarded
    • 2014 November 14, Stephen Halliday, “Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Maloney the hero”, in The Scotsman:
      In a raucous atmosphere, it was an unforgiving and physical contest from the start. Grant Hanley conceded the first free-kick within the opening 20 seconds, setting the tone for a busy and thankless evening for Serbian referee Milorad Mazic.
  2. (of a person) ungrateful or unappreciative

Antonyms

Translations