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 The process, which typically is a precursor to involuntary staff reductions, just concluded with the cooling-off period for those who had opted in ending this past weekend, sources said. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026 At some point before the airport incident Milania had reportedly been evaluated at a mental health facility under the state’s Baker Act, which allows for involuntary examination of someone under certain conditions, according to TMZ. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026 Certain airport changes, additional connections, and involuntary downgrades can also qualify for refunds. — Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026 Robinson successfully argued that, under the circumstances, her testimony had been involuntary, and the judges excluded it from her trial. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 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
  • The task for the printmakers, led by Erik Hougen, Jeremy Ruiz, and Tom Smith, was to reproduce the jottings, corrections, and accidental smears on Safdie’s notecard as faithfully as possible, and also to scale it up in size.
    — Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Good news for Boeing, but could this accidental monopoly be a potential disaster waiting to happen?
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of accidental
Adjective
  • District winners earn automatic berths into the FHSAA playoffs.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Independent Payment Advisory Board, which was supposed to force automatic Medicare cuts if spending exceeded target growth rates, was repealed in 2018 without ever becoming operational.
    — Dana P. Goldman, STAT, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of automatic
Adjective
  • Ben-Gvir was considered so extreme that the Israeli military barred him from compulsory service.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Ultra-Orthodox political leaders have demanded a law to formalize the group's broad exemption from the draft, but one that would also determine a percentage of ultra-Orthodox men and women who would be subject to compulsory service.
    — Dov Lieber, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • Much like her character Klara, Ortega chooses to have faith in humans and their spontaneous wonder.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Celine’s Michael Rider leads a pack of creatives who seek spontaneous styling, embrace imperfection, and refuse to be bound by rules.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of spontaneous
Adjective
  • Bushings are parts designed to reduce friction and absorb shock in various mechanical assemblies.
    — Graham Kates, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • These components are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and mechanical stress.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of mechanical
Adjective
  • However, other than spot-testing, the FDA is still assessing how to standardize testing methods for identifying asbestos—a fact that set social media aflame in 2025 when consumers criticized the department for allegedly ending mandatory testing.
    — Tracy Middleton, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026
  • From 2001 to 2010, as Denmark introduced nationwide resuscitation initiatives including mandatory school CPR education, bystander CPR rates more than doubled, while 30-day survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest more than tripled.
    — Meng Yang, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • The National Federation of Federal Employees union said a survey of its members showed a large majority opposed the Agriculture Department reorganization plan and most were unwilling to relocate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Middle America Republicans haven’t been entirely unwilling to stay off the celebrity train themselves.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of unwilling
Adjective
  • The reflex sell-off after Wednesday's Federal Reserve rate hike gave the S&P 500 a momentary test of 7500, which proved a timely shakeout.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Padmini smiled, though this appeared more reflex than friendliness.
    — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 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 25 Oct. 2026.

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