1
as in free
not costing or charging anything
A local veterinary technician provides gratuitous services to the animal shelter twice a month.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unnecessary
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
that violent scene was completely gratuitous and didn't need to be in the movie at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gratuitous
This was the superfluous lie, the gratuitous lie—the lie that did not need to be told but was told only as a demonstration of power.
—
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Was the mention of Louise gratuitous?
—
Dan Chiasson,
The New York Review of Books,
22 Apr. 2026
This was not going to be gratuitous.
—
Shyla Watson,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Creator and host Eric André took the late-night talk show, a TV genre with all-too-familiar conventions, and twisted it beyond recognition with harrowing celebrity interviews, person-on-the-street stunts, jump-scare pranks, and gratuitous nudity.
—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Was the mention of Louise gratuitous?
—
Dan Chiasson,
The New York Review of Books,
22 Apr. 2026
This was not going to be gratuitous.
—
Shyla Watson,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Creator and host Eric André took the late-night talk show, a TV genre with all-too-familiar conventions, and twisted it beyond recognition with harrowing celebrity interviews, person-on-the-street stunts, jump-scare pranks, and gratuitous nudity.
—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gratuitous
Adjective
-
See list of free community events How to watch the World Cup in Miami away from the stadium.
-
For those unable to attend games at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium, the free-to-enter festival offers local and traveling spectators a place to gather during the World Cup.
Adjective
-
In a separate case, Oren David Shachar of Van Nuys, Abraham Shin of Corona and Jeannie Choi of Torrance are accused of participating in a healthcare fraud scheme involving submitting false claims for medically unnecessary hospice care services.
-
Overcollection of personal information often indicates monetization through data sharing rather than delivering user value, creating unnecessary privacy and security risks.
Adjective
-
Garden trowel Mulch (optional) Prepare the soil by loosening it up with a garden trowel.
-
Wearing a life jacket isn’t optional for children.
Adjective
-
The Omni’s rooftop pool bar offers complimentary admission for hotel guests, with a limited number of day passes available during the summer for everyone else.
-
The company focuses on customization, made-to-order production, and flexible bridal designs, including convertible dresses that allow brides to transform their look throughout the day, while offering complimentary custom sizing and international shipping.
Cite this Entry
“Gratuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gratuitous. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
