gratuitous
Gratuitous means "without cause" or "unnecessary." Telling ridiculous jokes at a somber occasion would be a display of gratuitous humor.
Gratuitous can be used to refer to something that’s unnecessary and mildly annoying. If a friend frequently gives you fashion tips, even though you’ve expressed no interest in receiving them, you’d be correct in labeling her advice as gratuitous. In addition, gratuitous can be used to indicate that something is not only unnecessary but also inappropriate. Some people claim that some films and video games contain gratuitous violence — that is, violence that is excessive and offensive.
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unnecessary and unwarranted
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synonyms:
needless, uncalled-for
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unnecessary, unneeded
not necessary
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unnecessary, unneeded
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without cause“a gratuitous insult”
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Synonyms:
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unmerited
not merited or deserved
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unmerited
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costing nothing
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synonyms:
complimentary, costless, free, gratis
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unpaid
not paid
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unpaid
Vocabulary lists containing gratuitous
In this collection of twelve essays, the leader of New England's transcendentalist movement shares his philosophical ideas on different aspects of mid-nineteenth-century life. Read the full text here.
This nonfiction book recounts the story of how a 245 BCE sea journey from Athens to Alexandria inspired Eratosthenes of Cyrene to contemplate the stars and measure the distance around the earth.
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