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
This was not going to be gratuitous.
—
Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Quentin Tarantino’s outrageous revisionist Western is wildly over-the-top, combining the director’s penchant for gratuitous violence and sparkling dialogue with a story that’s pleasingly labyrinthine but nothing if not schlocky.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
Creator and host Eric André took the late-night talk show, a TV genre with all-too-familiar conventions, and twisted it beyond recognition with harrowing celebrity interviews, person-on-the-street stunts, jump-scare pranks, and gratuitous nudity.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
This gratuitous mill remains one of the great engine options in the sedan’s history.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Quentin Tarantino’s outrageous revisionist Western is wildly over-the-top, combining the director’s penchant for gratuitous violence and sparkling dialogue with a story that’s pleasingly labyrinthine but nothing if not schlocky.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
Creator and host Eric André took the late-night talk show, a TV genre with all-too-familiar conventions, and twisted it beyond recognition with harrowing celebrity interviews, person-on-the-street stunts, jump-scare pranks, and gratuitous nudity.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
This gratuitous mill remains one of the great engine options in the sedan’s history.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gratuitous
Adjective
-
They’re connected by a free three-and-a-half-mile coastal trail known as the Cliff Walk—one of the biggest tourist draws to America’s smallest state.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Another idea would treat the money the government puts into people’s individual funds as an interest-free loan, which people would then pay back once their wealth compounds.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
When miscarriage remains shrouded in secrecy and shame, people experience their loss and grief alone and, too often, in unnecessary fear.—
Dara Kass,
Time,
9 June 2026
-
If your goal is to spend less, eliminate unnecessary expenses and stay on top of recurring bills with minimal effort, Rocket Money is worth considering.—
Nick Perry,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
The optional add-on service will not guarantee visa approvals, and the State Department will name which missions offer it before launch, with any extension hinging on traveler demand.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Once boundaries are established, the collar delivers warnings (like tones or optional static feedback) if your dog approaches or crosses the set perimeter, helping reinforce training over time.—
Rachel Cortez,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Even the complimentary olives are gigantic, customers say.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
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Everyone who attends will enjoy complimentary birthday cake, including the ceremonial singing and cake candles.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gratuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gratuitous. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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