involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˌ)in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē 
-ˌte-rē
Synonyms
Examples of involuntary in a Sentence
Breathing and circulation are involuntary processes.
When the door burst open, she let out an involuntary shriek.
The lawyer argued that the client's confession was involuntary.
Recent Examples on the Web
Legislators have said the appellate decisions were confusing and did not properly distinguish what is voluntary versus involuntary homelessness.
—
Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
Still, people stuck in Indiana’s legal system can be charged a dizzying range of fees at every stage: pre-trial through bail or electronic monitoring, at sentencing through $189 court fees and punitive fines, and post-trial through involuntary program fees in parole and probation.
—Isabelle Kause, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Magistrates’ duties include accepting guilty pleas, issuing arrest and search warrants, overseeing first appearances following arrests, setting release conditions, accepting involuntary commitment applications and issuing temporary domestic violence protection orders.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
Spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition, in which an abnormality in the brain’s neural network results in involuntary spasms of the muscles that open or close the vocal cords.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
The legislation allows family members to petition for the involuntary treatment of people debilitated by drug abuse.
—The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024
Both already were involuntary guests at the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Jail on unrelated grand theft charges, Baglin since February and Abad since December.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024
Your involuntary hospitality will likely result in an academic publication with your name on it.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2024
Among other points, the tribes said Reclamation must reject any plan that would force the five Colorado River Valley tribes, four of which have lands and water rights in Arizona, to accept involuntary or uncompensated reductions.
—The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2024
Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024
Still, people stuck in Indiana’s legal system can be charged a dizzying range of fees at every stage: pre-trial through bail or electronic monitoring, at sentencing through $189 court fees and punitive fines, and post-trial through involuntary program fees in parole and probation.
—Isabelle Kause, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Magistrates’ duties include accepting guilty pleas, issuing arrest and search warrants, overseeing first appearances following arrests, setting release conditions, accepting involuntary commitment applications and issuing temporary domestic violence protection orders.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
Spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition, in which an abnormality in the brain’s neural network results in involuntary spasms of the muscles that open or close the vocal cords.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
The legislation allows family members to petition for the involuntary treatment of people debilitated by drug abuse.
—The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024
Both already were involuntary guests at the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Jail on unrelated grand theft charges, Baglin since February and Abad since December.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024
Your involuntary hospitality will likely result in an academic publication with your name on it.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2024
Among other points, the tribes said Reclamation must reject any plan that would force the five Colorado River Valley tribes, four of which have lands and water rights in Arizona, to accept involuntary or uncompensated reductions.
—The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'involuntary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near involuntary
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involuntary. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˈ)in-ˈväl-ən-ˌter-ē
1
: not made or done willingly or from choice : unwilling
2
: being enforced or required : mandatory
3
: not normally under the control of the will
an involuntary response to a stimulus
Medical Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˈ)in-ˈväl-ən-ˌter-ē
: not subject to control of the will : reflex
involuntary contractions
Legal Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē
: done, made, or initiated contrary to or without one's choice
an involuntary confession
an involuntary lien
an involuntary plaintiff joined in the action
involuntarily
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share