completely gratuitous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely gratuitous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is unnecessary or uncalled for, often in a context where it adds no value or purpose. Example: "The scene in the movie was completely gratuitous, serving no real purpose in the plot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The carnage is not, however, completely gratuitous.

The New York Times - Books

The worst of it is that she's completely gratuitous.

The Guardian - Books

Roger Daniells-Smith, prosecuting, described the footballer's alleged attack as "completely gratuitous violence".

The Guardian

The resolution, passed on Friday, said: "The repression was completely gratuitous, bloody, massive and brutal.

The Guardian

Another group got an average answer, along with a completely gratuitous decorative flourish — the Republican and Democrat logos, elephants and donkeys.

The Washington Post

And then, at the end of the day, it was completely gratuitous, like they just showed me sitting on him, frontal.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It is wholly gratuitous".

The Guardian - Money

And it's entirely gratuitous.

The New York Times

Of course, not all predictions are gratuitous.

BMC Biology

In Vildanden (1884; The Wild Duck) Ibsen completely reversed his viewpoint by presenting on stage a gratuitous, destructive truth-teller whose compulsion visits catastrophic misery on a family of helpless innocents.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Congress must come to its senses before the country suffers a completely self-inflicted grievous wound that weakens our economy and imposes gratuitous hardship on the least fortunate.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "completely gratuitous", ensure the context clearly demonstrates that the subject adds no value or purpose. Overuse can weaken your argument. Consider /s/entirely+unnecessary if the emphasis is simply on the lack of need.

Common error

Avoid using "completely gratuitous" when something is merely unwanted or disliked. The phrase implies a significant lack of purpose or justification, not just a personal preference. Use /s/purely+optional or /s/unwarranted if the matter is subjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely gratuitous" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it is entirely unnecessary or lacking purpose. As shown by Ludwig, it emphasizes the absolute lack of justification or need for something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

21%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "completely gratuitous" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something entirely unnecessary or lacking purpose. Ludwig AI confirms this through multiple examples from reliable sources. While most frequently found in news and media, it also appears in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. When writing, use "completely gratuitous" to express strong disapproval of something pointless, considering alternatives such as /s/entirely+unnecessary or /s/totally+uncalled+for based on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wholly gratuitous

Synonymous, simply uses "wholly" instead of "completely".

entirely unnecessary

Emphasizes the lack of necessity, similar to "completely gratuitous".

totally uncalled for

Highlights the inappropriateness or lack of justification.

utterly needless

Focuses on the absence of need or reason.

quite superfluous

Indicates that something is beyond what is required or necessary.

absolutely unwarranted

Stresses the lack of justification or reason.

entirely unjustified

Highlights the absence of a valid reason.

patently unneeded

Indicates obvious lack of requirement.

blatantly unnecessary

Highlights obvious and inappropriate nature.

purely optional

Focuses on the elective nature of the action or item.

FAQs

How can I use "completely gratuitous" in a sentence?

You can use "completely gratuitous" to describe something that is entirely unnecessary or lacks any valid reason. For example, "The violence in that film was "completely gratuitous", adding nothing to the plot".

What are some alternatives to "completely gratuitous"?

Some alternatives to "completely gratuitous" include "entirely unnecessary", "totally uncalled for", or "utterly needless". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "totally gratuitous" instead of "completely gratuitous"?

Yes, "totally gratuitous" is a perfectly acceptable alternative to "completely gratuitous". Both phrases convey the same meaning of being entirely unnecessary or without justification.

What is the difference between "gratuitous" and "completely gratuitous"?

While "gratuitous" already implies something is unnecessary, adding "completely" emphasizes the extent to which it is unneeded or unjustified. "Completely gratuitous" amplifies the sense of pointlessness.