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gratuitous

/ɡɹəˈtjuː.ɪt.əs/adjective

Given or done without payment or without being deserved; unnecessary and uncalled for.

Example sentence

  • Critics complained that the film's gratuitous scenes added nothing to the story.

Now mostly means unnecessary and unprovoked: gratuitous violence in films is the fixed example. Related to 'gratuity', a tip, through the shared idea of something freely given.

Related words