Thankless

Describing an action or task that is unlikely to be appreciated or rewarded, resulting in little or no gratitude from others. It can also pertain to a person who is ungrateful or shows a lack of appreciation. Often, it implies a situation demanding effort, sacrifice, or service without reciprocation of thanks or positive acknowledgement. The term highlights a disparity between the effort expended and the recognition received, creating a sense of disappointment or futility. Such endeavors are commonly perceived as challenging, because of the lack of external validation and the potential for burnout.

Thankless meaning with examples

• The volunteer work, though essential, felt thankless. Hours spent cleaning up the park yielded few visible results and even fewer expressions of gratitude from the community, leaving them feeling dejected about how they had put their time in, with no thanks offered.
• Raising children can sometimes feel like a thankless job. Parents pour their hearts and souls into their kids, often without receiving explicit thanks in return, especially during the challenging teenage years, despite the love given.
• The politician's task was thankless; they attempted to solve economic problems, facing constant criticism from both sides of the aisle, and seeing their efforts constantly downplayed for political purposes, no matter the actions taken.
• The soldier endured a thankless mission; fighting in a foreign land far from home, the soldier was at risk, never quite sure if their actions would make a difference or be acknowledged by anyone back home.
• The artist faced a thankless struggle to gain recognition for their work. They invested years of effort in creating a masterpiece, that despite their passion, went largely unnoticed and unappreciated by critics or the public, leaving them disheartened and broke.