involuntary

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē How to pronounce involuntary (audio)
Definition of involuntarynext
1
as in accidental
not made or done willingly or by choice my long stays on the sidelines during our football games were strictly involuntary

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision breathing is involuntary

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compulsory
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law the abolition of involuntary servitude by civilized society

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 involuntary Some residents are reluctant to file complaints with state ombudsmen, fearing retaliation or even involuntary discharge, said Jayla Sanchez-Warren, director of the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging. — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026 The odd name, part of the carmaker’s rebadging, usually connotes involuntary movement. — James Raia, Mercury News, 5 July 2026 Hospital staff reportedly told them Vincent was exhibiting agonal breathing, an involuntary reflex that can occur near death. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 With more advanced cameras and larger data sets, involuntary behavior such as heart rate and skin flushness could also be tracked. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for involuntary
  1. accidental
  2. automatic
  3. compulsory
  4. spontaneous
  5. mechanical
  6. mandatory
  7. unwilling
  8. reflex
Adjective
  • These brands sought deep operational integration and audience engagement, contrasting with non-sponsors who gained accidental publicity from FIFA's strict clean-stadium rules.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • The accidental discharge by the officer will be reviewed internally, the New London Police Department said.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026
Definition of accidental
Adjective
  • Langley said that his company has recently rolled out a robust automatic audit process by which suspicious or questionable activity is flagged for administrators.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • If an open door isn’t detected, the automatic parking brake won’t activate, increasing the risk of vehicle rollaway.
    — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 30 July 2026
Definition of automatic
Adjective
  • During those years, a generation of young men left the country to avoid compulsory military service in Israel's proxy Lebanese militia, known as the South Lebanon Army.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 26 July 2026
  • The automaker had agreed a deal with unions in late 2024 to avoid factory closures in Germany and rule out compulsory redundancies until the end of 2030.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 24 July 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • And, contrary to the fantasies of libertarians, no good road net has ever emerged from the spontaneous actions of individuals maximizing their own welfare and without collective action through government.
    — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 July 2026
  • Corrin remembers getting a custom leather wash bag at Hôtel de Crillon in Paris but says a spontaneous gesture meant even more.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of spontaneous
Adjective
  • Pushing high-speed lines through deep water barriers demonstrates mechanical durability and precision control.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026
  • Berto’s marketing exec Andrea de Fatima Facchin said the mill began to develop fabrics with Banantex in 2024 after being drawn to the next-generation material’s environmental integrity and superior mechanical properties.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 30 July 2026
Definition of mechanical
Adjective
  • Staff members at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa, said that Konza and federal officials told them their participation in the new program was mandatory.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
  • Pledis Entertainment put out a statement today announcing that SEVENTEEN members DK and Vernon will begin their mandatory military service this summer.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • Iran wants full control over the Strait of Hormuz and seems unwilling to settle, analysts said.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 July 2026
  • The surprise element to this move is that Madrid themselves had been unwilling to sign him until very recently.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of unwilling
Adjective
  • As the session continues, Atlas’s movements appear increasingly fluid, suggesting the system is being evaluated not only for strength but also for agility, reflex response, and adaptive motor control.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026
  • Wyle listened to the two women’s breathing and administered a reflex test on their knees.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 May 2026
Definition of reflex

Browse Nearby Words

involuntarily
involuntary
involute
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Cite this Entry

“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/involuntary. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on involuntary

Nglish: Translation of involuntary for Spanish Speakers

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