What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
gratuitous
Example
The movie had a gratuitous amount of violence. [gratuitous: adjective]
Example
She received a gratuitous amount of praise for her work. [gratuitous: adjective]
undeserved
Example
He received an undeserved promotion at work. [undeserved: adjective]
Example
She felt guilty for receiving undeserved compliments. [undeserved: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Undeserved is less common than gratuitous in everyday language. Gratuitous is more versatile and covers a wider range of contexts, while undeserved is more limited in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between gratuitous and undeserved?
Both gratuitous and undeserved are formal words and are not commonly used in informal contexts.
