SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
gratuitous
adjective
Uncalled for or without adequate reason; also given without charge.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Uncalled for
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topGratuitous criticism lacks sufficient cause or purpose; excessive describes its amount.
Given without charge
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThis meaning concerns payment and is separate from describing an unnecessary insult or detail.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See gratuitous in use
The review's gratuitous insult weakened its otherwise thoughtful criticism.
During the planning meeting, a gratuitous insult about the designer's handwriting added friction without helping anyone improve the clues.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license