gratuitous

1 not costing or charging anything <they will throw in a gratuitous box of chocolates when you spend $30 or more in their shop> Synonyms complimentary, costless, gratis, freeRelated Words nominal; bestowed, donated, given; pro bono; discretionary, freewill, optional, voluntary; honorary, uncompensated, unpaidNear Antonyms paid; costly, dear, expensive, high

2 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 dispensable, unnecessary, inessential, needless, nonessential, uncalled-for, unessential, unwarrantedRelated Words discretionary, elective, optional; extra, extraneous, irrelative, irrelevant, redundant, superfluousNear Antonyms all-important, crucial, important, vital; imperative, pressing, urgentAntonyms essential, indispensable, necessary, needed, needful, required