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

Ralph Fiennes does most of the heavy lifting here, playing Cardinal Lawrence, a dutiful and doubting man overseeing the vote for the next pope. —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024

Ever the dutiful student, Swift follows all the parameters of the assignment, yet moves like rhyming wanted with wanted come off as rookie mistakes. 233. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 20 May 2024

But Denis’s new film was about an aging Black train conductor living on the outskirts of Paris, who gently pressures his too dutiful daughter to leave their apartment and live her own life. —Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2024

Ralph Fiennes does most of the heavy lifting, playing a dutiful and doubting man overseeing the vote. —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2024

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