Ever had one of those days where you do a completely normal, expected thing and feel like you deserve a parade for it? You took out the trash! You remembered your mom—s birthday! You put the new toilet paper roll on the holder! Where—s your medal? Well, the internet has found the perfect word for that quiet, self-congratulatory feeling: thanklessly.

It started with a simple Reddit post that asked, —What—s a word for when you do something you—re supposed to do and feel proud of yourself for it—? The answer that took the cake was —thanklessly.— As in, —I just did the dishes thanklessly,— or —I thanklessly paid my taxes on time.— It—s not that anyone else is thanking you. In fact, they probably didn—t even notice. The thanks are coming entirely from inside the house—your own house, where you are both the employee of the month and the manager who forgot to order the plaques.

The beauty of —thanklessly— is that it perfectly captures modern adulting. We—re not out here slaying dragons; we—re remembering to buy dishwasher pods before we completely run out. That—s a heroic feat in a busy life! Using the word is a tiny, private joke with yourself. It—s the emotional equivalent of giving yourself a slow clap while everyone else is just wondering what—s for dinner.

This trend is so relatable because it highlights the invisible labor we all do. Nobody throws a party when you finally sort that junk drawer, but you know you—ve achieved a cosmic level of order. The world may never acknowledge your triumph in replacing the empty hand soap, but you can quietly bask in your own thankless glory. It—s the anti-viral achievement, celebrated only by the one person who matters: you, the unsung hero of your own mundane story.

So go ahead, thanklessly fold that laundry. The recognition might not be external, but your sense of smug accomplishment is 100% valid. Now, if you—ll excuse me, I just thanklessly finished writing this article. I—ll be awaiting my invisible trophy.