gratuitous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That’s Fennell’s challenge: When something is hard, and when the pain is gratuitous, don’t turn the other cheek, don’t let the heart-wrenching horror slip away.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
Occasionally, “Your Mother” indulges in genre clichés, such as gratuitous slow-motion and solemn pronouncements about the warrior’s code.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
But while clashes are inevitable, they shouldn’t be gratuitous.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
"You show too much, and it's gratuitous, and nobody's gonna watch, and you want to be effective in telling the truth. You show too little, and it's not real," she said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
I had not eaten the nuts; I was sorry that I had called her Aunt Addie; but I did not want to be singled out for gratuitous punishment.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
Vocabulary lists containing gratuitous
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Grade 12, List 1
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