UNGRATEFUL Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

ungrateful

adjective

ˌən-ˈgrāt-fəl

Definition of ungrateful

as in unnoticed

not likely to be appreciated by those who benefit the park's custodial staff has the ungrateful job of cleaning up after the Independence Day party is over

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rude

not showing gratitude although the food was being provided for free, the ungrateful recipients could not refrain from complaining that it was not to their liking

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of ungrateful There has been a lot of talk about families going no contact –– it has been described as a rising trend of ungrateful adult children being cruel to aging parents or a younger generation setting boundaries with parents unwilling to treat their children with respect. — Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 10 May 2026 On someone else, this nonchalance could seem ungrateful. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026 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 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 See All Example Sentences for ungrateful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungrateful

Adjective

This does not go unnoticed by Britt (Isabelle Bonfrer), a bartender who watches it unfold with quiet amusement.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
The Atlanta Braves also activated a deal with Kalshi without a formal announcement around the start of August that went unnoticed by news media.

— Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of unnoticed

Adjective

For instance, your colleagues may be very agreeable and kind to their boss but rude to their more junior colleagues, or the cafeteria waiter.

— Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Totally ignoring the humanity of both worker and customer is rude, and yet both parties are interested in getting on with whatever the transaction is.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of rude

Adjective

The former eventually achieved cult classic status thanks to home video while the latter still feels terminally unappreciated.

— Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Reports suggest Torres feels unappreciated and has been convinced by Luis Enrique to move to the French capital.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of unappreciated

Adjective

Campbell can actually be spotted in a photo at the beginning of the teaser trailer for Send Help (embedded below), as an unappreciative Bradley throws the picture of his parents (the father is Campbell) in a trash can.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Apparently, the jabs and insults from his unappreciative guest kept coming.

— Gil Macias, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025

Definition of unappreciative

Adjective

At the outset of this chatty novel, the protagonist, Caroline, who was recently ghosted by a thoughtless man, has had a story published in this magazine.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
That self-deprecating description opens Tony, writer-director Matt Johnson’s movie about the one crazy summer that changed a thoughtless young lout’s life; for good measure, the quote does double duty as the tagline on the film’s poster.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of thoughtless

Browse Nearby Words

ungraspable

ungrateful

ungratefulness

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“Ungrateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungrateful. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ungrateful

adjective

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