ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ungrateful

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ənˈɡɹeɪtfəɫ// UK //ʌnɡɹˈeɪtfəl// un·grate·ful

adj. not feeling or showing thanks for something kind that someone has done for you.

adj. failing to acknowledge or express appreciation for benefits received. Often used to describe a person's character or a specific reaction to a gift or favor.


SIMPLE

He felt his children were being ungrateful for their gifts.

CONTEXTUAL

She didn't want to sound ungrateful, but the sweater her aunt knitted was three sizes too large.

COMPLEX

The politician's refusal to acknowledge his early supporters was seen as an ungrateful gesture that eventually cost him the loyalty of his core constituency.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From un- + grateful.

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'seem', or 'feel'; frequently takes the preposition 'for' to indicate the cause of the gratitude.

Pitfall

he was ungrateful to the gifthe was ungrateful for the giftUse 'to' for the person who gave the gift, but 'for' for the gift itself.

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