undutiful

/'ʌn'dju:tiful/

Thân thiện

An undutiful son ignores his elderly mother's request for help.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Lacking due respect or dutifulness: Failing to show the proper respect, obedience, or care that is expected, especially toward parents, superiors, or one's obligations.
   • Impious toward one's parents: Specifically describes a child who is disrespectful or disobedient to their parents.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • He was criticized for being an undutiful son who rarely visited his aging parents.
  • Her undutiful behavior toward her superiors jeopardized her position in the company.
  • The will was contested, with the family claiming the heir was undutiful and undeserving.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Context: In some legal systems, particularly historical ones, "undutiful" could be a factor in cases of inheritance or wills, where a child's conduct toward a parent was considered.

  • The court considered whether the son's undutiful conduct should affect his inheritance.

• Literary/Formal Tone: The word is often used in formal, literary, or historical contexts to describe a serious failing in moral or social duty.

  • The king's chronicles described the prince as undutiful and rebellious.

Variants and Related Words

• Undutifully (adverb): In an undutiful manner.
  • He acted undutifully by ignoring his family's advice.
• Undutifulness (noun): The state or quality of being undutiful.
  • His undutifulness was a source of great sorrow for his mother.

Synonyms

• Disrespectful: Showing a lack of respect.
• Disobedient: Refusing to obey rules or someone in authority.
• Unfilial (specifically for parental relationships): Not having or showing the qualities associated with a dutiful child.
• Neglectful: Not giving proper care or attention to someone or something.

Antonyms

• Dutiful: Conscientiously or obediently fulfilling one's duty.
• Respectful: Feeling or showing deference and respect.
• Obedient: Complying or willing to comply with orders or requests.
• Filial: Of or due from a son or daughter.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To prove undutiful: To demonstrate a lack of duty or respect.
  • He proved undutiful by abandoning his family responsibilities.
• An undutiful child: A common phrase describing a son or daughter who fails in their obligations to their parents.
  • In the story, the undutiful child was ultimately remorseful.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. lacking due respect or dutifulness
   • impious toward one's parents
   • an undutiful son

Từ đồng nghĩa

• impious