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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gratuitous
Even on his own terms, this rhetorical turn is gratuitous, because imagining a more measured version of Mishra’s argument is so easy.
—
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The nudity and those medical procedures is not gratuitous.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025
The horror factor, however, takes a back seat when Ally and Jay share comically gratuitous moments of rom-com schmaltz.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
As Newman notes, the entire performance was gratuitous, since the customary domestic duties would have curtailed Mahler-Werfel’s composing anyway.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The nudity and those medical procedures is not gratuitous.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025
The horror factor, however, takes a back seat when Ally and Jay share comically gratuitous moments of rom-com schmaltz.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2025
As Newman notes, the entire performance was gratuitous, since the customary domestic duties would have curtailed Mahler-Werfel’s composing anyway.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gratuitous
Adjective
-
The problem for the Ducks is that free agency looks to be a depressed market after Mitch Marner, and that’s if the Toronto Maple Leafs star makes it to July 1.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
All three services have free tiers with similar features, though RingCentral Video supports slightly longer meetings.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And with both parties’ primaries rendered unnecessary, the state is gearing up for a prolonged general.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
-
For example, when commuting in the city, only one or two people may be in the car at a time, making large, heavy vehicles unnecessary.—
The Editors,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Tornado Cash is comprised of immutable smart contracts and an optional user interface with enhanced privacy features, which the DOJ claims the developers controlled.—
Andrea Tinianow,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The other three graduated and were on optional practical training (OPT).—
Ashley Mahoney,
Axios,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Thankfully, Saks Fifth Avenue makes larger purchases worth your while by offering complimentary standard shipping on orders of $300 or more with code FREESHIP.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
9 Apr. 2025
-
On the sustainable front, Faherty has continued to double down through its usage of recycled and renewable fabrics, low-impact dyes and finishes, plastic-free packaging, renewable electricity in stores, complimentary repairs and keeping fabric scraps and products out of landfills.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gratuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gratuitous. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share