gratuitously

[ gruh-too-i-tuhs-lee, -tyoo- ]

adverb

1. without apparent reason, cause, or justification:

   The chase scene seems gratuitously thrown in for the sake of an action sequence.

2. without charge or payment; freely or voluntarily:

   Love is a spontaneous gift that cannot be earned—it is gratuitously given.

3. Law. without receiving any return value:

   The plaintiff must show that they will be forced to either hire someone to perform such household services or have someone perform them gratuitously.

Other Words From

• non·gra·tu·i·tous·ly adverb
• un·gra·tu·i·tous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gratuitously¹

gratuitous ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

For all those who were captivated by the shocking storytelling of Squid Game, there were others who found it gratuitously violent and difficult to watch.

From BBC

She also gratuitously claimed that the judge was "getting paid off."

From Salon

Each of the aforementioned cases signifies a tragic loss of life, gratuitously cut short by a man who felt entitled to take and assault a woman.

From Salon

Alicia Keys had just appeared, in a sequined red jumpsuit and matching encrusted gown, and rather gratuitously flubbed the opening note of her hit piano ballad “If I Ain’t Got You.”

From New York Times

Even Trump, always ready to gratuitously abuse McCarthy just to see how "my Kevin" will endure, jumped in with a Truth Social post saying, "I was eating too much."

From Salon