1
as in free
not costing or charging anything
A local veterinary technician provides gratuitous services to the animal shelter twice a month.
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gratuitous
Even on his own terms, this rhetorical turn is gratuitous, because imagining a more measured version of Mishra’s argument is so easy.
—
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The nudity and those medical procedures is not gratuitous.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025
The horror factor, however, takes a back seat when Ally and Jay share comically gratuitous moments of rom-com schmaltz.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
As Newman notes, the entire performance was gratuitous, since the customary domestic duties would have curtailed Mahler-Werfel’s composing anyway.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The nudity and those medical procedures is not gratuitous.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025
The horror factor, however, takes a back seat when Ally and Jay share comically gratuitous moments of rom-com schmaltz.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
As Newman notes, the entire performance was gratuitous, since the customary domestic duties would have curtailed Mahler-Werfel’s composing anyway.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gratuitous
Adjective
-
Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2025
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Officers were able to squeeze the animal’s head free from the grate after about 20 minutes, police said.—
Don Sweeney,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And with both parties’ primaries rendered unnecessary, the state is gearing up for a prolonged general.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
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For example, when commuting in the city, only one or two people may be in the car at a time, making large, heavy vehicles unnecessary.—
The Editors,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, WhatsApp assured users via BBC News that its suddenly ever-present blue circle is optional, despite being unremovable.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The long cargo rack to the rear can accommodate up to two children in optional seating, or the weekly shop secured in MIK-compatible storage accessories.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Also new for the 2025 Festival is an official VIP area where patrons can enjoy complimentary gifts, elevated cocktails, premium liquor, and two live chef demos from Chef Paul of Barbados and Chef Kimesha Chong of Trinidad and Tobago.—
Amber Love Bond,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The district is offering complimentary credit monitoring services to help mitigate harm.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gratuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gratuitous. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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