ingrate
C1 / Formal or LiteraryFormal, Literary, Sometimes Archaic or Humorously Formal
Definition
Meaning
An ungrateful person who does not acknowledge or return kindness.
A person who, after receiving benefits or kindness from another, shows no gratitude and may even act in a hostile or dismissive manner.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term carries strong negative judgment and is a direct character label. It is more common as a noun, though the adjective 'ingrateful' is archaic. Its use often implies a sense of moral failing and betrayal of social expectation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences. Usage is similarly formal/archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a slightly old-fashioned or theatrically formal tone, often used for dramatic emphasis or ironic effect.
Frequency
Very low-frequency and somewhat archaic in both. Possibly slightly more likely to be encountered in older British literary texts, but equally rare in modern speech for both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] called [object] an ingrate[subject] felt like an ingrateVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms specific to 'ingrate'. Often used in the phrase 'you ingrate!' as a dramatic accusation.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in highly formal, admonishing correspondence: 'We will not continue to support such an ingrate.'
Academic
Rare, except in literary analysis or historical texts discussing character or morality.
Everyday
Extremely rare. If used, it is for humorous, overdramatic, or sarcastic effect among educated speakers.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The archaic 'ingrateful' foe is mentioned in Shakespeare.
American English
- 'Ingrateful' is an archaic form not used in modern American English.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- After all I did for him, he never said thank you—the ingrate!
- She felt like an ingrate for not appreciating her parents' sacrifices.
- The philanthropist was labelled an ingrate by the very society that had once shunned him.
- His ingrate of a nephew sold the family heirlooms he had been gifted.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: IN-GRATE sounds like 'in-grate'. Someone who grates on your nerves from the inside after you've been kind to them is an INGRATE.
Conceptual Metaphor
GRATITUDE IS A DEBT / An ingrate is one who refuses to pay a social or moral debt.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'инграт' (non-existent) or 'ингра' (Ingria region). The Russian concept is 'неблагодарный человек', 'неблагодарный'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'He was very ingrate'). The modern adjective is 'ungrateful'.
- Pronouncing it as /ɪnˈɡreɪt/ (stress on second syllable).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'ingrate' MOST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal, and somewhat archaic word. It is more common in older literature than in modern conversation.
Not in modern English. The historical adjective form 'ingrateful' is obsolete. The correct modern adjective is 'ungrateful'.
They mean the same thing, but 'ingrate' is a single, more formal/literary noun, while 'ungrateful person' is a descriptive phrase in neutral register.
Yes, it is a strong, direct insult that questions their character and morality, implying a breach of fundamental social norms. Its archaic nature can soften or intensify the insult depending on delivery.