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 Mayor Eric Adams prioritized eliminating encampments by pursuing an aggressive strategy of criminalization and encampment sweeps led by the NYPD, and expanded use of involuntary hospitalizations. — Dave Giffen, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026 Yet for some thinkers today the involuntary dispersion of the Jews (galut or golah) is articulated as being inherently different from the voluntary exile of the Jews (diaspora or tfutsot). — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026 What specific criteria for involuntary treatment Henrichsen did not meet is not clear. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026 This asymmetric expression could rig up motor circuitry, such as an abundance of neurons with long, signal-carrying fibers, that leads to more involuntary movement on one side than the other. — Quanta Magazine, 13 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
  • Driscoll and others involved in the mission worried that something far less dramatic could derail it, such as an accidental weapon discharge, an isolated confrontation with a protester or a guardsman caught on camera behaving poorly.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In these spaces, the risk of accidental contact with poison ivy is much higher.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of accidental
Adjective
  • Bo Bichette singled off Matt Festa to score automatic runner Francisco Lindor in the 10th inning, helping the New York Mets to a wild 6-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Bo Bichette drove in Francisco Lindor, the automatic runner, with a single off right-hander Matt Festa in the top of the 10th.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of automatic
Adjective
  • While vessel inspections are not compulsory, member states can request a secondary inspection of a vessel in line with specified criteria.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But compulsory citizen participation in self-governance has a long and distinguished history.
    — Susan Ostermann, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • This case is small enough for spontaneous games by the lake, in an airport lounge, or after a long lunch that stretches into sunset cocktails—even the simplest games deserve first-class treatment.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Doctors diagnosed the man with a spontaneous epidural hematoma, which is a blood clot that forms in the head or spine without any preceding trauma.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of spontaneous
Adjective
  • To scale up capacity, operators simply add more cells to the stack, and no need to redesign heavy mechanical housings.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Last month, a Brazilian air force probe confirmed that a combination of severe icing conditions, as well as mechanical system failures and pilot distractions, contributed to the country’s most deadly air crash since 2007.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of mechanical
Adjective
  • From a historic red card to mandatory hydration breaks, Barton offers a window into changes from a World Cup referees’ perspective.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Program would be mandatory At least 111 substances of unknown safety have been added to foods, drinks and supplements sold in the United States without alerting the FDA, according to a study released this March.
    — Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • The United States appears unwilling to accept any conditions that could impede transit.
    — , CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But the public’s willingness to defend it cannot be unlimited if universities appear unwilling to confront their own problems.
    — David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unwilling
Adjective
  • One breath, just long enough to let the reflex pass and judgment catch up.
    — Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • One of the most notable advantages of reflex balls is their inherent unpredictability.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 23 July 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 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on involuntary

Nglish: Translation of involuntary for Spanish Speakers

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