dutiful

adjective

du·​ti·​ful ˈdü-ti-fəl 

 also  ˈdyü-

1

: filled with or motivated by a sense of duty

a dutiful child

2

: proceeding from or expressive of a sense of duty

a dutiful effort

dutifully

ˈd(y)ü-ti-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

dutifulness

ˈd(y)ü-ti-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• deferent
• deferential
• regardful
• respectful

Examples of dutiful in a Sentence

the dutiful way he took care of his sick mother

the family showed a dutiful deference to their minister when he came to dinner

Recent Examples on the Web

As festivals have increasingly endeavored to showcase more diverse talent, benchmarks of inclusivity occasionally run the risk of feeling like a dutiful checklist. —Brent Simon, Variety, 25 June 2024

Time Travels Dervla Murphy: The Godmother of Hitting the Road Perhaps the greatest female travel writer of her generation, Murphy defied the narrative of the dutiful Irish daughter—and motherhood—to find freedom. —JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

His head lolled lifelessly each time his dutiful niece stopped holding it up from behind with her cupped hand. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2024

Some handle these challenges with care and dutiful propriety. —Philip Zelikow, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dutiful

adjective

du·​ti·​ful ˈd(y)üt-i-fəl 

: having or showing a sense of duty

dutifully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

dutifulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun