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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 He was placed on a 72-hour involuntary hold for a mental health evaluation, feared to be a danger to himself or others. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2026 Her siblings alleged in Death of the Pastor’s Wife that John-Paul called a mental hospital during their separation and initiated an involuntary hospitalization. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 In Death of the Pastor’s Wife, her siblings allege that John-Paul called a psychiatric hospital that same month and initiated an involuntary hospitalization. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026 Voluntary buyouts always offer better terms than involuntary staff reductions. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Aug. 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
  • For this reason, users are becoming more anxious about protecting their smartphones from accidental drops.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Brussels must recognize this strength and treat the durability of its institutional framework as a deliberate asset rather than an accidental feature.
    — JONAS NAHM, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of accidental
Adjective
  • Inside is Blancpain’s automatic caliber 615, introduced in 1995 and refined over the following three decades.
    — Taylor Stoddard, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Items like window coverings, outdoor lighting, storage sheds and automatic garage door openers all add economic value.
    — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of automatic
Adjective
  • The Kremlin has repeatedly denied plans for compulsory mobilization.
    — Sam Meredith,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps why the comparatively slim amount of time spent on Borges’ late-in-life political foibles and fascist sympathizing is so uninspired — restrained, workmanlike, intentionally unprovocative, compulsory.
    — Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • As an editor on the shopping desk, New York Fashion Week means a back-to-back schedule of runway shows, showroom previews, and meetings–with iced matcha breaks and spontaneous dinners throughout.
    — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Her love of travel has been a lifelong passion but was undeniably sparked by a spontaneous solo trip to London her junior year of college.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of spontaneous
Adjective
  • Strength training involves using weights, machines, resistance bands, or even your own body weight to provide the mechanical stimulus muscles need to maintain or build strength.
    — Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The Michigan investigation will now determine whether a mechanical failure, environmental factor, bird strike, or another issue caused the fighter to lose control.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of mechanical
Adjective
  • The mandatory software only made a job possible—not better, not less frustrating, and not any more rewarding.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • As a starting point, the team could argue that no court should hear Kanter’s case because tickets to Sky games reportedly contain a mandatory arbitration clause.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • The tech sector of the S&P 500 has seen its forward price/earnings multiple contract from 29 to 21 in the past year with the market unwilling to extrapolate the profit surge in the absence of a clear path back to reaping oodles of free cash flow.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
  • This could be a significant return for those unwilling to try their luck by investing now or in the near future.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of unwilling
Adjective
  • Padmini smiled, though this appeared more reflex than friendliness.
    — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • One breath, just long enough to let the reflex pass and judgment catch up.
    — Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 27 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 21 Sep. 2026.

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