gratuitous

adjective

grə-ˈtü-ə-təs How to pronounce gratuitous (audio)
Definition of gratuitousnext
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

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 But even some of them might balk at its callow psychology and interminably dull plotting that no amount of gratuitous, unengaging violence or nudity can overcome. — Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026 Pivots into a black-and-white Brazilian telenovela, which Camilo tunes into nightly while on baby duty, feed into the film’s nesting-doll narrative on paper, but in practice make for annoyingly gratuitous flourishes. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 Last month, Vance hurled himself into an obscure debate over burrito prices to make a gratuitous swipe at a conservative Washington Post columnist’s weight. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026 The same topics that would earn an adult novel praise as serious and important can be viewed as gratuitous or even irresponsible in Young Adult. — Rebecca Stafford, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gratuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gratuitous
  1. free
  2. unnecessary
  3. optional
  4. complimentary
  5. costless
Adjective
  • On Friday, Royals right-hander Alec Marsh elected to pursue free agency.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Lula and Bolsonaro discussed the value of the minimum wage, public security policies, Brazil's free healthcare system initiatives and incentives for agribusiness.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of free
Adjective
  • Choosing unsalted or lightly salted varieties is a simple way to enjoy their benefits without adding unnecessary sodium.
    — Laura Solla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Creating a secure plan for accessing that information now can prevent unnecessary complications in the future.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of unnecessary
Adjective
  • His father, Scott, was a marketing research professor at the school and home football Saturdays in Provo weren’t optional.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But multiple tripod mounts facilitate the use of optional accessories, like an extended grip and the aforementioned viewfinder.
    — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of optional
Adjective
  • From November onwards, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will get 15 hours of complimentary cloud streaming per month, while Game Pass Premium and Game Pass Essential will get ten and five respectively.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But my favorite ritual happened each evening in the Living Room lobby bar, where live jazz, complimentary bites, and a glass of the signature Opera Punch was a welcome sip after a day of exploration.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of complimentary
Adjective
  • The private office should name that plainly than suggest formalization is costless.
    — Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of costless

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gratuities
gratuitous
gratuity
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Cite this Entry

“Gratuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gratuitous. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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