unrewarding
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: * Not providing personal satisfaction, benefit, or a sense of achievement: Describes an activity, task, or situation that does not feel worthwhile, fulfilling, or beneficial for the effort invested.
Usage
The adjective "unrewarding" is used to describe experiences, jobs, efforts, or relationships that lack positive returns, such as enjoyment, profit, or a feeling of accomplishment. It often implies a sense of wasted time or effort.
Examples
- The work was repetitive and unrewarding, offering no chance for creativity.
- He found the research project to be intellectually unrewarding.
- It can be an unrewarding task to try to convince someone who refuses to listen.
- She left the unrewarding job in search of a more fulfilling career.
Advanced Usage
- "Proved/felt/seemed unrewarding": A common structure to describe the outcome or perception of an endeavor.
- His attempts at negotiation proved unrewarding.
- Used in comparative and superlative forms: "more unrewarding," "most unrewarding."
- Of all my duties, filing paperwork is the most unrewarding.
Variants and Related Words
- Rewarding (adj.): Providing personal satisfaction or benefit; fulfilling. (Antonym)
- Teaching is a rewarding profession.
- Unfulfilling (adj.): Not providing happiness or satisfaction. (Near synonym)
- Unprofitable (adj.): Not yielding financial gain. (Specific synonym in a financial/effort context)
- Soul-destroying (adj., informal): Extremely boring and depressing. (Stronger, more informal near synonym)
- Gratifying (adj.): Giving pleasure or satisfaction. (Antonym)
Synonyms
- Unsatisfying
- Thankless
- Fruitless
- Unproductive (in terms of results)
- Tedious (when implying boring and unsatisfying)
Antonyms
- Rewarding
- Fulfilling
- Satisfying
- Gratifying
- Fruitful
- Productive
Related Phrases/Idioms
- A thankless task/job: A phrase very similar in meaning to "an unrewarding task," emphasizing that one receives no thanks or appreciation for the effort.
- Cleaning up after the party was a thankless task.
Adjective
- not rewarding; not providing personal satisfaction