1
as in volunteer
done, made, or given with one's own free will
a voluntary contribution to the school's fund-raising drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in optional
subject to one's freedom of choice
participation in the resort's recreational activities is strictly voluntary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in conscious
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
the legal distinctions between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of voluntary
Ohio’s Champion Tree Program is a voluntary effort to locate, measure, record and appreciate the largest tree species in the state.
—
Jennie Key, The Enquirer, 31 Aug. 2025
The attorney explained that Allison was technically not eligible for voluntary departure because she was classified as an undocumented immigrant.
—Patricia Ortiz, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2025
The obligation to pay alimony must not be voluntary.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Drivers would have several options for reporting mileage to private contractors, including a smartphone app or the vehicle’s telematics technology, said Scott Boardman, policy adviser for the transportation department who works on the state’s decade-old voluntary road usage charge program.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for voluntary
Jennie Key, The Enquirer, 31 Aug. 2025
The attorney explained that Allison was technically not eligible for voluntary departure because she was classified as an undocumented immigrant.
—Patricia Ortiz, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2025
The obligation to pay alimony must not be voluntary.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Drivers would have several options for reporting mileage to private contractors, including a smartphone app or the vehicle’s telematics technology, said Scott Boardman, policy adviser for the transportation department who works on the state’s decade-old voluntary road usage charge program.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for voluntary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for voluntary
Adjective
-
Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2023
-
That’s noteworthy for a show based at a high-school auditorium in Litchfield and run by a staff that is almost entirely volunteer, including the show’s star and its producer.—
Susan Dunne,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2022
Adjective
-
Yet even with these far-reaching effects, financial literacy continues to be treated as an optional skill set rather than as a cornerstone of true economic progress.—
Kevin Cohee,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.—
Matthew Strauss,
Pitchfork,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This look is perfect for landing in a style-conscious city like Paris or Chicago and hitting the ground running without needing a quick change in the airport bathroom.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
-
As Americans grow increasingly more health-conscious, many are looking for substitutes for certain foods and additives that researchers have deemed less-than-stellar for your longterm health.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That's bad news for Arizonans hoping to catch a sight of the spacecraft soaring overheard, but those willing to make a trip to the launch site in the neighboring state will still be treated to an incredible view of the Falcon 9 blasting off from the ground.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Bantin's post suggests the developer wasn't willing to compromise the port's quality by squeezing that content through the relatively narrow 400 MB/s bus of a physical Switch 2 card.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But many health professionals continue to crave such robust and deliberate care.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
This requires a certain kind of emotional architecture – deliberate frameworks for sharing personal experiences in ways that build stakeholder trust while advancing organizational goals.—
Tarun Galagali,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
City officials cited public safety issues and a desire to return the once-public amenity to its intended purpose as the driving force behind the more aggressive push to clear the site this time around.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
31 Aug. 2025
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Employers need to show that the solution actually works for its intended purpose and that its accuracy holds up in real-world conditions.—
Alonzo Martinez,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Falwell sued for invasion of privacy, libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Like most extended car warranty providers, CarShield excludes pre-existing conditions that existed before your warranty took effect, as well as damage resulting from poor maintenance, neglect or intentional abuse.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Claiborne said the property was eventually willed to Vanderbilt University, which in turn sold it to the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County in 1968.—
Austin Hornbostel,
The Tennessean,
4 July 2025
-
Lawson will play Sarah Silver, the strong willed and decisive Superintendent in the Boston Police Department who is Lena’s stepsister.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Voluntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voluntary. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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