gratuitous
10 synonyms and 1 antonym for gratuitous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Done without any good reason, especially excessive or unnecessary (often used of violence or offense).
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use gratuitous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
gratuitous violence
gratuitous insult
gratuitous nudity
Etymology
From Latin grātuītus ("free, unearned"), from grātia ("favor"), from grātus ("pleasing").
Full origin of gratuitous →Frequently asked questions
What does “gratuitous” mean?
The word “gratuitous” means done without any good reason, especially excessive or unnecessary (often used of violence or offense). In plain terms, uncalled-for or excessive, added for no real reason — often said about needless violence, nudity, or insults in media.
How do you pronounce “gratuitous”?
“Gratuitous” is pronounced gruh-TYOO-iht-uhs (/ɡɹəˈtu.ɪt.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “gratuitous” in a sentence?
Here is “gratuitous” used in a sentence: “Critics called the film's violence gratuitous and pointless.”
What is another word for “gratuitous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “gratuitous” include free, gratis, unjustified, groundless, baseless and unfounded.
What is the opposite of “gratuitous”?
The opposite of “gratuitous” — its antonyms — is onerous.
What part of speech is “gratuitous”?
“Gratuitous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “gratuitous” come from?
The word “gratuitous” comes from Latin. From Latin grātuītus ("free, unearned"), from grātia ("favor"), from grātus ("pleasing").
How many meanings does “gratuitous” have?
“Gratuitous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: done without any good reason, especially excessive or unnecessary (often used of violence or offense).
