unrewarded
Given no prize
Unrewarded describes effort, work, or virtue that receives no recognition or compensation.
A labor of love may go unrewarded in any material sense.
Her years of dedication went unrewarded by the company.
The word often carries a note of injustice—the implication that reward was deserved but withheld.
Not noticed or considered
- unacknowledgedNot formally recognized
- unappreciatedNot given due recognition
- undervaluedRated below true worth
- uncelebratedNot publicly honored
unnoticed · unpraised · neglected · forgotten · uncredited · disregarded · unsung · anonymous
Not yet compensated
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- gratisAt no expense
- unsalariedNot receiving regular wages
- unreimbursedNot paid back
unremunerated · free · voluntary · unwaged · nonpaid · gratuitous
Producing no useful outcome
- vainExcessively proud or futile
- futileIncapable of producing results
- pointlessLacking any purpose
- uselessWithout practical value
unproductive · ineffective · unavailing · ineffectual · barren · sterile · bootless · unprofitable
overlooked
Not noticed or considered
- unacknowledgedNot formally recognized
- unappreciatedNot given due recognition
- undervaluedRated below true worth
uncelebrated · unnoticed · unpraised · neglected · forgotten · uncredited · disregarded · unsung · anonymous · invisible
unpaid
Not yet compensated
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- gratisAt no expense
- unsalariedNot receiving regular wages
unreimbursed · unremunerated · free · voluntary · unwaged · nonpaid · gratuitous
fruitless
Producing no useful outcome
useless · unproductive · ineffective · unavailing · ineffectual · barren · sterile · bootless · unprofitable · unsuccessful
- overlookedoverlooked, unnoticed, ignored, forgotten, neglected
- free thingsfree, gratis, zero cost, no charge, on the house
- out-of-pocket costsout-of-pocket, copay, copayment, deductible, coinsurance
unrewardedrewarded
Given something earned
compensated · remunerated · recompensed · recognized · honored
unrewardedsuccessful
Having achieved one's aims
fruitful · profitable · lucrative · worthwhile · fulfilled