dutiful

[doo-tuh-fuhl, dyoo-]

adjective

1. performing the duties expected or required of one; characterized by doing one's duty: a dutiful child.

   a dutiful citizen;

   a dutiful child.

   Synonyms: duteous, submissive, obedient, deferential, respectful

2. required by duty; proceeding from or expressive of a sense of duty.

   dutiful attention.

dutiful

/ ˈdjuːtɪfʊl /

adjective

1. exhibiting or having a sense of duty

2. characterized by or resulting from a sense of duty

   a dutiful answer

Other Word Forms

• dutifully adverb
• quasi-dutiful adjective
• undutiful adjective
• dutifulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dutiful¹

First recorded in 1545–55; duty + -ful

Example Sentences

"Older generations and state employees maintain dutiful compliance -- observing government mandates for black attire and periods of official grief," he told AFP.

Read more on Barron's

The trials and tribulations of the dutiful new bride had families reorganise their daily routines to ensure they didn't miss out a single episode.

Read more on BBC

“It Girl” is dutiful in giving Birkin credit as a serious actress and singer, but it never brings her fully to life.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

From the journals Metcalfe has surmised that Vivien, herself a brilliant literary scholar and teacher, had willfully lived out her marriage under Blundy’s shadow, the dutiful handmaiden to a literary eminence.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There have been a lot of dutiful, fact-check-style responses pointing out that Superman is an immigrant and the character was always “woke,” in that he has a history of fighting fascists and KKK members.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• conscientious