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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gratuitous
The Prime release should play great at any scale while its stars are crossed at one another, but miscalculates their chemistry in a gratuitous and slightly icky epilogue.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025
This sort of gratuitous and misleading language is designed to misrepresent the entire field of DEI, creating further division and anger.
—Paolo Gaudiano, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
The camera’s positioning and perspective are deliberate, leaving nothing gratuitous.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
But with Paramount yet to open the film in Japan in France, and to use the topically gratuitous metaphor, Better Man’s monkey could still swing (on streaming services if not theatrically).
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gratuitous 
Peter Debruge, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025
This sort of gratuitous and misleading language is designed to misrepresent the entire field of DEI, creating further division and anger.
—Paolo Gaudiano, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
The camera’s positioning and perspective are deliberate, leaving nothing gratuitous.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
But with Paramount yet to open the film in Japan in France, and to use the topically gratuitous metaphor, Better Man’s monkey could still swing (on streaming services if not theatrically).
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gratuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gratuitous
Adjective
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Sign up here to receive The Athletic's free daily NFL newsletter, and check out our other newsletters here.—
Jacob Robinson,
The Athletic,
19 Feb. 2025
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Related: The Superman Exercise Is the Core Move Your Workout Might Be Missing How to Do the Clam Shell Exercise to Fire Up Your Side-Butt How to Start 6 Weeks to Stronger, SELF’s All-New Workout Program Get more of SELF’s great fitness coverage delivered right to your inbox—for free.—
Jenny McCoy,
SELF,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Yankee White Security Clearance Mr. Musk has told Mr. Trump that the designs for the new Air Force Ones have been over-engineered with unnecessary features that have slowed the production, the people familiar said.—
Eric Lipton,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
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Time is of the essence—act now to ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary legal and financial repercussions.—
Matthew F. Erskine,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The newest Prestige has three generously-sized staterooms, with an optional cabin for the captain.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
11 Feb. 2025
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Other hardware includes an optional LED lighting system, a throttle, plus a controller that keeps everything coordinated.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The hotel has 25 winery partners, all of which offer complimentary tastings to hotel guests and can accommodate last-minute visitors who are staying at Farmhouse.—
Maya Kachroo-Levine,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2025
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Customers order at the orange counter before settling in at one of the five tables, soon to be joined by a complimentary plate of tortilla chips, beans and salsa.—
Benjy Egel,
Sacramento Bee,
6 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to gratuitous
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Cite this Entry
“Gratuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gratuitous. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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