Synonyms of gratuitous

gratuitous

adjective

grə-ˈtü-ə-təs 

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

• free
• optional
• complimentary
• costless
• gratis
• voluntary
• nominal
• on the house
• discretionary
• bestowed
• donated
• given
• uncompensated
• unpaid
• honorary
• pro bono
• freewill

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expensive
• high
• costly
• paid
• dear

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

• unnecessary
• extra
• needless
• optional
• unwarranted
• dispensable
• nonessential
• unessential
• irrelevant
• inessential
• redundant
• discretionary
• uncalled-for
• superfluous
• elective
• extraneous
• irrelative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• necessary
• essential
• required
• important
• needed
• crucial
• vital
• needful
• indispensable
• urgent
• imperative
• all-important
• pressing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gratuitous

But the sheer brutality and creeping terror of the simplistic opening scene makes the rest of the film — with its gratuitous set pieces and CGI gore — seem much more inelegant. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026

To the contrary, council members often preface their comments with gratuitous praise for staff (as if they’re not being paid handsomely for their work). — Paul Krueger, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2026

The length exacerbates all the rest of the series' sins, including a lack of emotional depth, gratuitous suffering and violence, long stretches of boring, listless plotting and extraneous characters. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 June 2026

Others have been mired in gratuitous nostalgia (Obi-Wan Kenobi), left lost in the weeds with fan-favorite characters (Ahsoka), or a bad combination of both (The Book of Boba Fett). — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2026

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