Word meaning
gratuitous
adjective · gruh-TOO-ih-tus
What does gratuitous mean?
Gratuitous means uncalled for; lacking good reason.
Gratuitous in a sentence
“The film was criticized for its gratuitous violence.”
Synonyms for gratuitous
- unnecessary
- unwarranted
- needless
Where does gratuitous come from?
From Latin gratuitus, "freely given."
How to remember gratuitous
- Say it out loud a few times: gruh-TOO-ih-tus.
- Write one sentence of your own using gratuitous, about something that happened to you today.
- Quiz yourself tomorrow, in three days, and next week. Spaced reviews are what make new words stick.
More words worth knowing
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- benevolent — well-meaning and kindly; generous toward others.
- obdurate — stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
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- convivial — friendly, lively, and enjoyable.
- abate — to become less intense or widespread.