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
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
Sanders turned the dutiful punt from an extension of the commercial break into must-see television.
—
Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Like a dutiful student who’s done his homework, the documentary is intent on showing its audience just how much research on Fuller was done.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
Your dutiful Axios Cleveland correspondents are slowly but surely working their way through the region's Christmas ale offerings.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
Here’s Almut again, now quite pregnant, sitting on a toilet, having her contractions meticulously timed by her dutiful partner, Tobias (Garfield).
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dutiful 
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.
Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Like a dutiful student who’s done his homework, the documentary is intent on showing its audience just how much research on Fuller was done.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
Your dutiful Axios Cleveland correspondents are slowly but surely working their way through the region's Christmas ale offerings.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
Here’s Almut again, now quite pregnant, sitting on a toilet, having her contractions meticulously timed by her dutiful partner, Tobias (Garfield).
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dutiful
Dictionary Entries Near dutiful
Cite this Entry
“Dutiful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dutiful. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dutiful
adjective
du·ti·ful
ˈd(y)üt-i-fəl
: having or showing a sense of duty
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share