ungrateful
gb/ʌŋɡɹˈeɪtfəl/ us/ʌŋɡɹˈeɪtfəl/
B1
Inglés
~ 7300
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
B1
property
1
not showing thanks or appreciation
Not saying or showing that you are thankful when someone helps you or gives you something.
Patrón de uso:
be ungrateful (for [something] / to [someone])
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse "ungrateful" with "rude" or "impolite". "Ungrateful" focuses on not showing thanks after receiving help or a gift, while "rude" is more general bad behavior or bad manners. Some also mix it up with "regretful," which means feeling sorry about something you did.
Sinónimos
unappreciative (Slightly more formal and less emotional; focuses on not valuing something rather than on manners.)
|
thankless (Often used of attitudes; can sound a bit literary or strong in everyday speech.)
|
entitled (Suggests the person believes they deserve special treatment, not just that they lack gratitude.)
Antónimos
grateful (Direct opposite; clearly shows thanks and appreciation.)
|
appreciative (Stresses actively valuing and recognizing kindness or help.)
Colocaciones
ungrateful child
|ungrateful brat
|seem ungrateful
|sound ungrateful
|feel ungrateful
|deeply ungrateful
Temas
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- After everything his parents had done for him, he sounded ungrateful when he complained about the car they bought.
- I don't want to seem ungrateful, but this isn't really the kind of help I needed.
- She felt ungrateful for wishing she were somewhere else on her friend's birthday.
- You’re being very ungrateful to your sister after all the time she spent helping you move.
- They called him an ungrateful brat when he refused to say thank you for the expensive gift.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The child was ungrateful and did not say thank you for the gift.
- I hope I do not sound ungrateful, but this shirt is too small for me.
- He is ungrateful to his parents, even though they pay for his school.
- She felt ungrateful because her friend did so much for her.
- You are being ungrateful when you complain about the free food.
adjective
B2
property
2
giving no reward or thanks
Describes a job or task that is hard and important, but people do not notice it or say thank you for it.
Patrón de uso:
an ungrateful [job/task/role]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think "ungrateful" can describe any boring or difficult job. It is usually used when the job is important and takes effort, but people do not show appreciation. For simply boring or hard work, words like "boring," "tiring," or "difficult" are more natural.
Sinónimos
thankless (Very close in meaning; the most common alternative for a job or task with no appreciation.)
|
unrewarding (Emphasizes lack of emotional or practical reward more than lack of thanks from others.)
Antónimos
rewarding (Highlights that the work gives emotional satisfaction or benefits in return for effort.)
|
fulfilling (Opposite in terms of personal meaning and satisfaction rather than public thanks.)
Colocaciones
ungrateful job
|ungrateful task
|ungrateful role
|ungrateful work
|an ungrateful position
Temas
work
|evaluation
|daily life
|business
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Parenting can feel like an ungrateful job when teenagers never say thank you.
- Cleaning the office every night is ungrateful work, but it has to be done.
- Moderating online comments is an ungrateful task that most people never notice.
- She took on the ungrateful role of telling the team about the budget cuts.
- It’s an ungrateful position: if everything goes well, nobody mentions you, but if one thing goes wrong, everyone blames you.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Taking care of the old building is an ungrateful job.
- Cooking every day for your family can feel like ungrateful work.
- He has the ungrateful task of saying no to many people.
- Being a referee is an ungrateful role because players only shout when you make a mistake.
- Cleaning the toilets at the station is ungrateful work, but it is important.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
ungrateful
AFI
GB/ʌŋɡɹˈeɪtfəl/
US/ʌŋɡɹˈeɪtfəl/
Sílabas y acento
un - grate - ful (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (grate)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: ungrateful
Familia de palabras
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
ungratefully
adverb
ingratitude
noun C1
Expresiones
How ungrateful of you
1/hˈaʊ ʌŋɡɹˈeɪtfəl əv jˈu/
fixed phrase
mild rebuke for lack of thanks
Used to criticize someone when they do not show thanks or respect after another person helps them or gives them something.
Ejemplos
- I spent all weekend helping you move, and you didn’t even say thank you—how ungrateful of you.
- She thought, "How ungrateful of you," when her son complained about his birthday present.
ungrateful brat
1/ʌŋɡɹˈeɪtfəl bɹˈæt/
fixed phrase
informal
insult for a thankless child
A strongly negative way to describe a child or young person who does not say thank you or does not value what others do for them.
Ejemplos
- His aunt called him an ungrateful brat when he rolled his eyes at the gift.
- Stop acting like an ungrateful brat and say thank you to your grandmother.
ungrateful wretch
1/ʌŋɡɹˈeɪtfəl ɹˈɛt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
literary
strong literary insult for ingratitude
A strong, often dramatic way to insult someone who does not show thanks or loyalty after another person has helped them a lot.
Ejemplos
- "You ungrateful wretch," he shouted, "after everything I’ve done for you!"
- In the story, the ungrateful wretch leaves the village as soon as he becomes rich.