ingratitude

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "ingratitude" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a person's lack of appreciation or thankfulness, especially towards someone who has done something generous or helpful for them. Example: His ingratitude was especially shocking after his benefactor had done so much for him.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And for good reason – a coffee shop is supposed to be a refuge from daily life, not a place to have a tiny purple stranger roar with ingratitude directly into your latte.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In any case, what ingratitude on the part of Carswell: presumably by "leftwing news programmes", he means the BBC, which appears practically to have made Farage a permanent member of staff.

The Guardian - Opinion

The letter comes after Malcolm Turnbull slammed artists "vicious ingratitude" for campaigning against accepting funding from Transfield Holdings.

The Guardian

If you're one of the richest 1,000 Britons who have enjoyed a doubling of wealth during one of the worst economic crises in modern history, it surely smacks of ingratitude not to fling a few pennies into the Tory coffers.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Really this is disastrous, I hope the Biennale can survive but I think the artists that have done this have potentially driven a stake, not through the asylum seeker policy I can assure you of that, but through the Biennale, it's extraordinary, the sheer vicious ingratitude of it all," he told ABC 702 on Monday.

The Guardian

A Gulf state that is an odd man out Don't count your dominoes Building up ReprintsMr Mubarak himself, playing out his well-worn role as father of the nation in a televised speech, shook his head in sadness at the ingratitude of misguided youth, but swore nevertheless to carry on his burdensome duty of running the country.

The Economist

The difficulty here is that the city lacks friends.When the Conservatives held power in London, the city came to be seen as a place that soaked up public money and showed its ingratitude by voting Labour.

The Economist

The main causes, say the Euro-types, were Irish cockiness in an economic boom, ingratitude after decades of EU subsidies, a hopeless Yes campaign and, most important, ignorance of the treaty, made worse by the No campaign's lies.

The Economist

To China's rulers it is a backward kind of place whose former serfs, "liberated" by the Communist army, have repaid the favour with ingratitude and even outright "splittism".

The Economist

Even in the face of marble-hearted ingratitude, there is nothing of bitterness in Geoffrey Robinson.Nor is there anything of absolute Oriental luxury about my own flat.

The Economist

China is coy about food donations, but North Korean ingratitude probably reduces the potential amount.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "ingratitude", be specific about the actions or circumstances that demonstrate the lack of appreciation. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of "ingratitude". While it can be disappointing, it's crucial to maintain a balanced perspective and not overemphasize its impact in your narrative.

Linguistic Context

The word "ingratitude" functions primarily as a noun, denoting the state or quality of being ungrateful; a lack of gratitude. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correctly used to describe a deficiency in appreciation or thankfulness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "ingratitude", as Ludwig AI confirms, accurately conveys a lack of appreciation or thankfulness. Functioning primarily as a noun, it's frequently employed in news and media, encyclopedias and scientific discourse to express disapproval of someone's lack of gratitude. Related terms include "ungratefulness" and "lack of appreciation". When using "ingratitude", specificity regarding the actions demonstrating a lack of appreciation is crucial, while overstating its impact should be avoided. While "ingratitude" can often be interchanged with "ungratefulness", it's important to note that "ingratitude" is usually the more formal term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ungratefulness

Direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of gratitude.

thanklessness

A general term for not showing gratitude.

absence of gratitude

States directly that there is no gratitude.

lack of appreciation

Focuses on the absence of valuing someone's efforts or gifts.

lack of thankfulness

Highlights the absence of expressing thanks.

forgetfulness of kindness

Emphasizes forgetting the good deeds done by another.

lack of recognition

Focuses on not giving due credit or acknowledgement.

failure to acknowledge

Stresses the omission of recognizing a benefit received.

disregard for generosity

Focuses on ignoring the act of giving.

unmindfulness of favors

Highlights the lack of awareness of benefits received.

FAQs

How to use "ingratitude" in a sentence?

You can use "ingratitude" to describe someone's lack of appreciation for a kindness or benefit they have received. For example: "His "ungratefulness" was shocking after all the help he'd been given."

What can I say instead of "ingratitude"?

You can use alternatives like "ungratefulness", "lack of appreciation", or "thanklessness" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "ingratitude" and "ungratefulness"?

While both "ingratitude" and "ungratefulness" describe a lack of gratitude, "ingratitude" is generally considered the more formal term. They are largely interchangeable.

Is "ingratitude" a negative trait?

Yes, "ingratitude" is considered a negative trait as it reflects a lack of appreciation for kindness or benefits received. It is often seen as a moral failing.