Definition of unappreciativenext
as in ungrateful
not showing gratitude vowed that his unappreciative niece would never receive another birthday present from him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 unappreciative 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 Complaining about the food, comparing it to other meals, or ignoring efforts made by the host also comes across as disrespectful and unappreciative. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 On the comic side, Stephen Graham and current Oscar lightning rod Andrea Riseborough are absolutely delightful as Matilda's horrible and unappreciative parents. Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2023 As for Erin, at the start of the film her character comes across as one of the worst dramatic cliches: the unappreciative, nagging spouse. Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023 The Leadership Development Institute’s research found that the most common behavioral triggers for negative emotional responses in the workplace were perceiving others as unreliable, unappreciative, micro-managing, abrasive, hostile, overly analytical, aloof, self-centered, or untrustworthy. Tony Gambill, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2021 No one would blame you for ceasing your generous practices altogether for those relatives who are clearly unappreciative. Washington Post, 29 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unappreciative
Adjective
  • On someone else, this nonchalance could seem ungrateful.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Mar. 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
Adjective
  • But no, the friend is not being rude.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
  • In what neatly encapsulates the uncomfortable, rude, thin-skinned yet cruel, sarcastic and ultimately juvenile communication style of his online brood, the leader of the pack started with — what else — Lawrence’s looks.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unappreciative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unappreciative. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster