Dutiful
adjective
Doing what is expected or required.
He is a dutiful son, always helping his parents with chores.
Often appears as...
- dutiful son
- dutiful daughter
adjective
Showing respect and obedience to someone in a position of authority.
The dutiful soldier saluted his commanding officer.
Often appears as...
- dutiful soldier
- dutiful servant
Usage tips
Military
adjective
Doing what is expected or required.
He is a dutiful son, always helping his parents with chores.
Often appears as...
- dutiful son
- dutiful daughter
adjective
Showing respect and obedience to someone in a position of authority.
The dutiful soldier saluted his commanding officer.
Often appears as...
- dutiful soldier
- dutiful servant
Usage tips
Military
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Expectation Fulfillment
Use 'dutiful' to describe actions that perfectly meet what is expected, especially in traditional roles.
She became a dutiful employee, never missing a deadline.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Connotation
'Dutiful' often implies positive moral qualities like responsibility and reliability.
His dutiful work on the project earned him respect.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Heroic
Being dutiful suggests normal, expected behavior, not going above and beyond.
A dutiful librarian sorts the books but doesn't necessarily innovate.
Pro Tip 1/3Expectation Fulfillment
Use 'dutiful' to describe actions that perfectly meet what is expected, especially in traditional roles.
She became a dutiful employee, never missing a deadline.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Connotation
'Dutiful' often implies positive moral qualities like responsibility and reliability.
His dutiful work on the project earned him respect.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Heroic
Being dutiful suggests normal, expected behavior, not going above and beyond.
A dutiful librarian sorts the books but doesn't necessarily innovate.
Pro Tip 1/3Expectation Fulfillment
Use 'dutiful' to describe actions that perfectly meet what is expected, especially in traditional roles.
She became a dutiful employee, never missing a deadline.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Connotation
'Dutiful' often implies positive moral qualities like responsibility and reliability.
His dutiful work on the project earned him respect.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Heroic
Being dutiful suggests normal, expected behavior, not going above and beyond.
A dutiful librarian sorts the books but doesn't necessarily innovate.
Compare with
attentivecompliantconscientiousdedicatoryloyalobedientrespectfulresponsible
Never forget "Dutiful"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Bush's Secret Visit to...
another pilot had gone by and seen the airplane and asked if it was Air Force One and the controller dutifully said no sir it's a Gulfstream type aircraft well to say that we all missed the heartbeat is an understatement because all we needed was that civilian pilot to say so that's not a Gulfstream
Video examples
For Children With...
program for clubfoot we realized that the doctors are not able to give the right treatment because of the non availability of the special shoe so we thought we should manufacture it locally make it available free of cost to these children Oh be a dutiful I know cool to Kiba
Video examples
The freakonomics of...
dutifully took his clipboard and walked down to this housing project, gets to the first building. The first building? Well, there's nobody there. But he hears some voices up in the stairwell, so he climbs up the stairwell, comes around the corner,
Video examples
Why we get mad -- and...
So you do the dutiful thing as a friend, and you ask for details. And they tell you a story about what happened to them at the gym or at work or on their date last night. And you listen and you try to understand why they're so mad.
Video examples
Humanity's Search for...
for the very first time, furnishing the yardstick of the universe. Meanwhile, a dutiful teenage boy in the Midwest was repressing his childhood love of astronomy and beginning his legal studies to fulfill his dying father's demand
Video examples
How bees help plants...
And these bees, dutifully helping lonely plants have sex, aren't alone. But rather are part of a very complex network of matchmaking creatures, critical for the pollination of natural ecosystems and crops.
Video examples
The Chinese legend of...
Adjusting her disguise, Zhu Yingtai prepared to bid her parents goodbye. She had always been a dutiful daughter— staying home and creating works of embroidery that brought her parents pride.
Video examples
Billy Collins: Everyday...
that will allow it to live another day. It wants only to be here tomorrow, dressed perhaps in the sleeve of a plaid shirt, nose pressed against the page, writing a few more dutiful lines
Video examples
The Akune brothers:...
Unbeknownst to them, two younger brothers, the third and fourth of the five Akune boys, were serving dutifully in the Imperial Japanese Navy, Saburo in the Naval Airforce,
Video examples
African Bullfrog Dad...
This excavation work will flood his own nursery or act as an escape route. In such circumstances, a dutiful father is key to survival.
Video examples
Bush's Secret Visit to...
another pilot had gone by and seen the airplane and asked if it was Air Force One and the controller dutifully said no sir it's a Gulfstream type aircraft well to say that we all missed the heartbeat is an understatement because all we needed was that civilian pilot to say so that's not a Gulfstream
Video examples
For Children With...
program for clubfoot we realized that the doctors are not able to give the right treatment because of the non availability of the special shoe so we thought we should manufacture it locally make it available free of cost to these children Oh be a dutiful I know cool to Kiba
Video examples
The freakonomics of...
dutifully took his clipboard and walked down to this housing project, gets to the first building. The first building? Well, there's nobody there. But he hears some voices up in the stairwell, so he climbs up the stairwell, comes around the corner,
Video examples
Why we get mad -- and...
So you do the dutiful thing as a friend, and you ask for details. And they tell you a story about what happened to them at the gym or at work or on their date last night. And you listen and you try to understand why they're so mad.
Video examples
Humanity's Search for...
for the very first time, furnishing the yardstick of the universe. Meanwhile, a dutiful teenage boy in the Midwest was repressing his childhood love of astronomy and beginning his legal studies to fulfill his dying father's demand
Video examples
How bees help plants...
And these bees, dutifully helping lonely plants have sex, aren't alone. But rather are part of a very complex network of matchmaking creatures, critical for the pollination of natural ecosystems and crops.
Video examples
The Chinese legend of...
Adjusting her disguise, Zhu Yingtai prepared to bid her parents goodbye. She had always been a dutiful daughter— staying home and creating works of embroidery that brought her parents pride.
Video examples
Billy Collins: Everyday...
that will allow it to live another day. It wants only to be here tomorrow, dressed perhaps in the sleeve of a plaid shirt, nose pressed against the page, writing a few more dutiful lines
Video examples
The Akune brothers:...
Unbeknownst to them, two younger brothers, the third and fourth of the five Akune boys, were serving dutifully in the Imperial Japanese Navy, Saburo in the Naval Airforce,
Video examples
African Bullfrog Dad...
This excavation work will flood his own nursery or act as an escape route. In such circumstances, a dutiful father is key to survival.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
P. J. Harvey
British Musician
I don't think that much anymore in terms of 'write a record, record a record, tour a record,' because in my own mind, things have changed, in that I'm just an ongoing artist. I'm not quite sure what the next project needs to be until it presents himself, and then I know. I just follow dutifully while I'm being led.
Quote examples
Queen Elizabeth II
English Royalty
At Christmas, I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child.
Quote examples
Lynn Coady
Canadian Novelist
It's kind of sad, the way we've turned the entertainment of reading into a kind of psychic broccoli - something to feel guilty about if you don't force it on your face-making children while dutifully consuming a few token florets yourself.
Quote examples
Namrata Shirodkar
Indian Actress
When you know the truth is on your side, when you have dutifully paid all your taxes, but you are still targeted for non-payment of dues, then what do you do? You grin and bear the harassment because you have nothing to hide.
Quote examples
Mellody Hobson
American Businessman
I've told stories about people coming to my office and giving me their coats and requesting that I hang them up and get coffee - which I dutifully do. And then I come in and sit at the head of the table. It's awkward.
Quote examples
Hilton Als
American Writer
In general, what we really want is a feeling when we read anything that the author has explored the territory as dutifully and as thoroughly as their spirit allows and as their heart allows.
Quote examples
William Cobbett
English Politician
To have a dutiful family, the father's principle of rule must be love, not fear. His sway must be gentle, or he will have only an unwilling and short-lived obedience.
Quote examples
Rod Taylor
Australian Actor
Anyway, when I was a kid, I dutifully went to the Sydney Technical and Fine Arts College.
Quote examples
Emily Watson
English Actress
I was a normal, rather dutiful child. I didn't even rebel as a teenager.
Quote examples
Jonathan Mayhew
American Clergyman
It becomes us, therefore, to be contented, and dutiful subjects.
Quote examples
P. J. Harvey
British Musician
I don't think that much anymore in terms of 'write a record, record a record, tour a record,' because in my own mind, things have changed, in that I'm just an ongoing artist. I'm not quite sure what the next project needs to be until it presents himself, and then I know. I just follow dutifully while I'm being led.
Quote examples
Queen Elizabeth II
English Royalty
At Christmas, I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child.
Quote examples
Lynn Coady
Canadian Novelist
It's kind of sad, the way we've turned the entertainment of reading into a kind of psychic broccoli - something to feel guilty about if you don't force it on your face-making children while dutifully consuming a few token florets yourself.
Quote examples
Namrata Shirodkar
Indian Actress
When you know the truth is on your side, when you have dutifully paid all your taxes, but you are still targeted for non-payment of dues, then what do you do? You grin and bear the harassment because you have nothing to hide.
Quote examples
Mellody Hobson
American Businessman
I've told stories about people coming to my office and giving me their coats and requesting that I hang them up and get coffee - which I dutifully do. And then I come in and sit at the head of the table. It's awkward.
Quote examples
Hilton Als
American Writer
In general, what we really want is a feeling when we read anything that the author has explored the territory as dutifully and as thoroughly as their spirit allows and as their heart allows.
Quote examples
William Cobbett
English Politician
To have a dutiful family, the father's principle of rule must be love, not fear. His sway must be gentle, or he will have only an unwilling and short-lived obedience.
Quote examples
Rod Taylor
Australian Actor
Anyway, when I was a kid, I dutifully went to the Sydney Technical and Fine Arts College.
Quote examples
Emily Watson
English Actress
I was a normal, rather dutiful child. I didn't even rebel as a teenager.
Quote examples
Jonathan Mayhew
American Clergyman
It becomes us, therefore, to be contented, and dutiful subjects.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension