ingratitude
gb/ɪŋɡɹˈætɪtˌud/ us/ɪŋɡɹˈætɪtˌud/
C1
English
~ 8900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
state
1
lack of gratitude or appreciation
A feeling or behavior where someone does not feel or show thanks for help or kindness.
Usage pattern:
ingratitude towards [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'ingratitude' with 'gratitude' because of the similar form; remember that the prefix 'in-' makes it negative. Another mistake is treating it as countable, e.g. '*an ingratitude*'; in normal use, 'ingratitude' is uncountable, though you can say 'an act of ingratitude'. Learners may also say '*ingrateful*' instead of the correct adjective 'ungrateful'.
Synonyms
ungratefulness (Very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech and can sound a bit less formal.)
|
thanklessness (Emphasizes the lack of thanks, sometimes suggesting the situation is unfair to the person who helped.)
Antonyms
gratitude (Direct opposite; a warm feeling of thanks and appreciation.)
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appreciation (Focuses on recognizing the value of someone’s help or kindness, including but not limited to saying thanks.)
Collocations
show ingratitude
|act of ingratitude
|the height of ingratitude
|bitter ingratitude
|forgetful ingratitude
|feel ingratitude
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He was deeply hurt by his son's ingratitude after years of sacrifice.
- The workers' ingratitude shocked the manager, who had fought hard to improve their pay.
- Donating anonymously protected her from the ingratitude she had experienced in the past.
- They saw his silence not as shyness but as pure ingratitude.
- She could forgive the mistake, but not the cold ingratitude that followed.
Learner examples
- His parents felt pain because of his ingratitude.
- After all her help, his ingratitude made her very sad.
- The teacher was surprised by the student's ingratitude.
- He showed ingratitude towards the friend who saved his job.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ingratitude
IPA
GB/ɪŋɡɹˈætɪtˌud/
US/ɪŋɡɹˈætɪtˌud/
Syllables & stress
in - grat - it - ude (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (grat)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ingratitude
- Plural: ingratitude
Word family
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
ungrateful
adjective B1
ungratefully
adverb
Advanced or less common
ingrate
noun C1
gratefulness
noun
Expressions
an act of ingratitude
1/ən ˈækt əv ɪŋɡɹˈætɪtˌud/
fixed phrase
formal
a single ungrateful action
One clear action that shows a person is not thankful for help or kindness.
Examples
- Failing to thank her after all she had done was an act of ingratitude.
- They saw his complaint as an act of ingratitude, given everything the company had provided.
the height of ingratitude
1/ðə hˈaɪt əv ɪŋɡɹˈætɪtˌud/
fixed phrase
formal
extreme level of ingratitude
A very strong and extreme kind of ingratitude.
Examples
- Calling her selfish after everything she had sacrificed was the height of ingratitude.
- To forget his support at your lowest point would be the height of ingratitude.