gratuitous

USAGE SUMMARY

'gratuitous' is a valid and usable word in written English.
It means given or done unnecessarily or without good reason, often to cause offence or harm. For example: The mayor made a gratuitous comment about the audience, which offended many people.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Andrew Lansley was belatedly shuffled away from the portfolio in 2012, but not before he had unleashed a gratuitous reorganisation, and written his marketopian plan on to the statute book.

The Guardian - Opinion

Loses a point for gratuitous mention of "macrobiotic soup".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There's a term for this brand of gratuitous online cruelty: we call it internet trolling.

The Guardian

There are gratuitous new restrictions on an already heavily curtailed right to strike, plans to rob the earnings of migrants who may work hard but lack the proper paperwork, and such a sweeping ban on legal highs that government lawyers could soon be fretting about accidentally criminalising sweets that give a sugar rush.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yeah, it's manufactured, but it's got energy, a little funk and a gratuitous sexy "urgghh" in the middle.

The Guardian - Music

The pieces will be more imaginative – I'm expecting thrones and direwolves and all sorts of gratuitous nipples – plus the stakes will be higher and, unlike the London edition, it might actually acknowledge the existence of the north for once.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The characters keep talking about the "great sex" they're having, but you think, "What great sex?" Sure, they rim each other, but that just makes you think back to the gratuitous food scenes littering this film.

The Guardian - Film

Certainly, with GOT (the TV series, rather than the books), it seems rather late to start complaining about "gratuitous" scenes.

The Guardian - Opinion

He said robust action by police would deter binge drinkers and help combat Britain's worsening problem of "gratuitous consumption" of alcohol.

The Guardian

Julia Gillard might get an interrogation about her empty fruitbowl, or about her oversized earlobes, but the gratuitous personal attack for Indigenous leaders often manifests around identity questions.

The Guardian

But his digs could be gratuitous and his exasperation overly theatrical.... Ryan parried this well.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gratuitous", ensure the context clearly establishes the action or element as unnecessary and unwarranted, often implying excessiveness or inappropriateness. This ensures the impact of your statement is both precise and effective.

Common error

Avoid using "gratuitous" when you mean something is simply free or complimentary. "Gratuitous" carries a connotation of being unnecessary and often offensive, not merely without cost.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "gratuitous" primarily functions to modify nouns, indicating that something is unnecessary, unwarranted, or excessive. It adds a layer of judgment, often implying disapproval or criticism. As per Ludwig AI, it is a valid word. This is exemplified in instances like "gratuitous violence".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "gratuitous" describes something unnecessary, uncalled for, or excessive, often implying disapproval. Ludwig AI validates its usage and common presence in English writing. Predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, the word serves to criticize actions lacking justification. When using "gratuitous", ensure the context clearly indicates excessiveness or inappropriateness, distinguishing it from merely 'free'. Alternatives include "unwarranted" and "unnecessary", offering nuanced ways to express a similar sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gratuitous

Highlights that something is excessive or unnecessary and often offensive.

unwarranted

Indicates a lack of justification or reason for something.

unnecessary

Highlights that something is not needed or required.

uncalled for

Suggests that something was inappropriate or not suitable for the situation.

needless

Emphasizes that something could have been avoided or was superfluous.

unjustified

Implies that there is no valid reason or excuse for something.

groundless

Suggests that something lacks a solid foundation or basis.

baseless

Similar to groundless, indicating a lack of factual support.

unfounded

Indicates that something is not based on evidence or facts.

redundant

Highlights that something is unnecessarily repetitive

FAQs

How to use "gratuitous" in a sentence?

Use "gratuitous" to describe something unnecessary or uncalled for, often excessive or inappropriate. For instance, "The film was criticized for its "gratuitous violence"".

What can I say instead of "gratuitous"?

You can use alternatives like "unnecessary", "unwarranted", or "uncalled for" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "gratuitous violence" or "excessive violence"?

"Gratuitous violence" and "excessive violence" are both correct but carry slightly different connotations. "Gratuitous violence" suggests the violence is unnecessary and without purpose, while "excessive violence" simply indicates a large amount of violence.

What's the difference between "gratuitous" and "complimentary"?

"Gratuitous" means unnecessary or uncalled for, often with negative connotations, while "complimentary" means given freely as a courtesy or gift. The words have opposite meanings and are not interchangeable.