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 Movies 'The Bodyguard': THR's 1992 Review The comparison to Graffiti is not gratuitous.
—
Arthur Knight, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Dec. 2024
Setting aside some gratuitous jump scares, Eggers has now made a Dracula movie that’s more than an exercise, more than an assertion of talent.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
And while most body horror movies are viewed as gratuitous, The Substance lives up to its title.
—Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
Advertisement The film also understands the power of unlocking such a dynamic, without being gratuitous about the visual details.
—Laura Ramadei, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gratuitous 
Arthur Knight, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Dec. 2024
Setting aside some gratuitous jump scares, Eggers has now made a Dracula movie that’s more than an exercise, more than an assertion of talent.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024
And while most body horror movies are viewed as gratuitous, The Substance lives up to its title.
—Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
Advertisement The film also understands the power of unlocking such a dynamic, without being gratuitous about the visual details.
—Laura Ramadei, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gratuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gratuitous
Adjective
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Cease is set to earn $13.75 million this season and is scheduled to reach free agency next offseason.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
26 Jan. 2025
-
To get a free copy of their book Home to Home Local Edition – Kansas City Metro, Kansas and Missouri, just call the office.—
Archway Homes,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
During a postseason matchup between the Chiefs and the Houston Texans, Mahomes found himself at the center of a controversial unnecessary roughness penalty.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
26 Jan. 2025
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Project 2025 also outlines plans for significant cuts to the federal workforce, focusing on reducing regulations and eliminating agencies seen as unnecessary or counterproductive.—
Nik Popli,
TIME,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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At their core, risotto recipes are quite humble, calling for rice, broth, aromatics (often some type of onion and garlic), and optional mix-ins like cheese, vegetables, wine, and meat.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Jan. 2025
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Allwood even sells additional wall planks and an exterior awning (currently unavailable) as optional add-ons.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Or, in complimentary meetings with college students looking for advice with the Mentorship Conversations feature.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
18 Jan. 2025
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There were attendants helping with the bags and bringing them on cars to the complimentary lounge where people could wait for their next train.—
Christin Parcerisa Vigueras,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Jan. 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 1 Feb. 2025.
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