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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

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word voluntary different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of voluntary are deliberate, intentional, and willing. While all these words mean "done or brought about of one's own will," voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

Where would deliberate be a reasonable alternative to voluntary?

While the synonyms deliberate and voluntary are close in meaning, deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

When is it sensible to use intentional instead of voluntary?

Although the words intentional and voluntary have much in common, intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

When could willing be used to replace voluntary?

The synonyms willing and voluntary are sometimes interchangeable, but willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of voluntary The manufacturer says the voluntary recall does not apply to other FreshRealm products. Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 18 June 2025 The bill advances phonics and other skills like comprehension and reading fluency, but its adoption is only voluntary. Denise Amos, Mercury News, 18 June 2025 According to an Amazon spokesperson, Jassy’s reference to a reduction in workforce does not necessarily mean layoffs; for example, the company could offer voluntary early retirement packages. Todd Spangler, Variety, 17 June 2025 The Department of Defense estimates about 4,200 service members have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, with 1,000 who have already self-identified and begun the voluntary separation process. Janae Bowens, Baltimore Sun, 13 June 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
  • Media partners see revenue shares ranging from 35 to 55 percent, along with optional setup fees and GDPR-compliant privacy protections.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • Diners can also add on an optional wine pairing for an additional fee.
    NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Paloma Wool Originating in Barcelona, Paloma Wool specializes in conscious garments and accessories to be worn as an art form, where getting dressed is not just a necessity, but an expression of oneself.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 24 June 2025
  • Much has been made about the conscious uncoupling of Devers and the Red Sox last Sunday.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Furthermore, success stories will only emerge from firms willing to rethink workflows from the ground up.
    Sol Rashidi, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Denverites willing to brave the heat and visit the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance this summer may be able to sneak a peek at a new baby sloth snoozing and snuggling in the treetops of the Tropical Discovery exhibit.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Not by publishing randomly, but by following a deliberate editorial calendar, revisiting your core challenges, and ensuring each new piece of content connects to the larger arc of your thought leadership story.
    Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Amanda Edwards/WireImage Unlike luxury fashion or high-end accessories, where scarcity is often a deliberate strategy to generate buzz, products like jam and wine fall into the realm of everyday indulgences.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • Christensen’s unique trick is also proof that a makeup product doesn’t have to just be used for its singular, intended purpose, which reminds us of Salma Hayek’s hack for covering gray hairs.
    Izzy Baskette, People.com, 18 June 2025
  • However, in a complex system with multiple centers of power and influence, this approach encountered immediate resistance from other control figures like Marco Rubio and Kash Patel, ultimately fading away without achieving its intended purpose.
    Dr. Alex Gold, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • But for him and many other faceless video creators, the tradeoffs are intentional.
    Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Each intentional interaction builds a lasting structure, or building block, within, strengthening emotional intelligence, resilience, clarity and empathy.
    Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Carnegie is convinced that sincerity is as easily willed as a ready smile and a memory for names.
    Ann Hulbert, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Voluntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voluntary. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on voluntary

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