Gratuitous and Imperative
Opposite meaning words
Gratuitous
Gratuitous adjective - Not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end.
Usage example: that violent scene was completely gratuitous and didn't need to be in the movie at all
Imperative is an antonym for gratuitous.
Nearby Words: gratuity, gratuitously
Imperative
Imperative adjective - Forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law.
Gratuitous is an antonym for imperative.
Nearby Words: imperious, imperatively
Cite this Source
Imperative and Gratuitous. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/gratuitous/imperative
Gratuitous & Imperative. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/gratuitous/imperative>.
Imperative or Gratuitous. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/gratuitous/imperative.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "gratuitous" and "imperative" have occurred on timeline