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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gratuitous
The detractors see evidence of someone seduced by gratuitous violence deployed wantonly as a lowest common denominator appeal to an unevolved, bloodthirsty audience.
—
John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
Arrogance and the gratuitous throwing of sharp elbows is not realism.
—Jonathan Kirshner, Foreign Affairs, 22 Jan. 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
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
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
Arrogance and the gratuitous throwing of sharp elbows is not realism.
—Jonathan Kirshner, Foreign Affairs, 22 Jan. 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
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
See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gratuitous
Adjective
-
With one week before the start of NFL free agency, Rams coach Sean McVay is resting, if not resting easy, knowing Stafford will be leading his team for a fifth season.—
Gary Klein,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2025
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All three local ski areas are located within the park, are accessible via a free shuttle, and are part of the SkiBig3 family: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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O'Brien then, himself, promised not to waste time — with an unnecessary musical number about not wasting time!—
Lindsay Kimble,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
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Decades of data illuminate the urgent need to take action to sustain our public health infrastructure related to vaccinations, health education, research and Medicaid funding to avoid unnecessary deaths, disease and expenses from influenza and other infectious diseases.—
Abigail Silva,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The new Certificate of Need process would shorten many of those time frames, with the period to determine the completion of applications shrinking from 30 to just three days followed by decision deadlines cut in half and public hearings made optional, according to a release from Anwar.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2025
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The board agreed and voted unanimously to make the class optional this coming schoolyear instead of mandatory.—
Marsha Sutton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And a complimentary evening cocktail and canapes are a thoughtful touch.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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The event also is scheduled to include complimentary food from more than 40 South Florida restaurants.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to gratuitous
Cite this Entry
“Gratuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gratuitous. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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