Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

gratuitous

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of 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 of gratuitous

complimentary, costless, free, gratis
Words Related to gratuitous

nominal

bestowed, donated, given

pro bono

discretionary, freewill, optional, voluntary

honorary, uncompensated, unpaid
Phrases Synonymous with gratuitous

on the house
Near Antonyms of gratuitous

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 of gratuitous

dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, uncalled-for, unessential, unnecessary, unwarranted
Words Related to gratuitous

discretionary, elective, optional

extra, extraneous, irrelative, irrelevant, redundant, superfluous
Near Antonyms of gratuitous

all-important, crucial, important, vital

imperative, pressing, urgent
Antonyms of gratuitous

essential, indispensable, necessary, needed, needful, required

Learn More about gratuitous

  1. See words that rhyme with gratuitous Dictionary: Definition of gratuitous Spanish Central: Translation of gratuitous Nglish: Translation of gratuitous for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gratuitous for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up gratuitous? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

glade

an open space surrounded by woods

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. Spartan Red Cross Warns of Shelter Conditions

  2. hirsute RIP Burt Reynolds

  3. op-ed NYT Publishes Anonymous Piece

  4. collegiality Kavanaugh Mentions Word in Hearing

  5. mistrial Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games