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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gratuitous
Related Stories The result is a passably diverting curio that remains on the level of juvenile fantasy adventure, but with gratuitous elements inappropriate for younger viewers.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 May 2025
Pop Step is fantastic and has a great personality, but she's introduced with gratuitous shots of her rear, and her body is talked about far too much even in the first episode.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Unlike Grey’s, though, The Pitt doesn’t treat us to gratuitous shots of Dr. Robby answering doors shirtless or hooking up with interns.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2025
Both of these aspects set the tone for the raw carnage that would be reproduced in Doom Eternal (2020), a solid sequel that doubled down on the gratuitous bloodletting and amped up the industrial sound of the Doom (2016) OST to a new level.
—Kazuma Hashimoto, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 May 2025
Pop Step is fantastic and has a great personality, but she's introduced with gratuitous shots of her rear, and her body is talked about far too much even in the first episode.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Unlike Grey’s, though, The Pitt doesn’t treat us to gratuitous shots of Dr. Robby answering doors shirtless or hooking up with interns.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2025
Both of these aspects set the tone for the raw carnage that would be reproduced in Doom Eternal (2020), a solid sequel that doubled down on the gratuitous bloodletting and amped up the industrial sound of the Doom (2016) OST to a new level.
—Kazuma Hashimoto, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gratuitous
Adjective
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
8 June 2025
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Burnes’ Loss Clouds Future of the Rotation Even before Burnes’ injury, the Diamondbacks faced questions about what the 2026 rotation would look like since top starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are eligible for free agency this winter and are likely to test the market.—
Jack Magruder,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Without a clear roadmap, friendship breakups often feel ambiguous, or sometimes lead to unnecessary hurt.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
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These unnecessary burdens slow them down, drain their energy, and keep them from reaching their next level.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Set realistic expectations—results vary, and acupuncture works best as part of a broader, optional wellness offering rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.—
Irina Logman,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Ekblad fine Defenseman Aaron Ekblad was a full participant in the Panthers’ optional practice on Sunday and said there are no issues with his left hand after blocking a Darnell Nurse shot during the second overtime period of Game 2 on Friday.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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For the 2025 program, Lions has allocated $2.3 million worth of complimentary festival passes, with a focus on the Global South, to individuals and communities from 28 countries.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2025
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Sly would choose a color group and band members pick complimentary outfits, proof that he was dedicated to individuality and unity as an idea and a practice.—
Hillary Crosley Coker,
Rolling Stone,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gratuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gratuitous. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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