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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 state magistrate judge denied involuntary commitment, but the FBI did not give up and continued to build the case to charge him and detain him, according to investigators.
—
Luke Barr, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
These involuntary meditative moments happened a lot during my stay.
—Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
The novel explores the life of Scott Treder, a 47-year-old biology technician who begins experiencing involuntary jumps through time, and there’s been interest in mounting a feature adaptation for some time.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2025
Most were an involuntary removal and include providers such as Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green and Frankfort Independent Schools in Frankfort, among dozens of others.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Luke Barr, ABC News, 2 Jan. 2026
These involuntary meditative moments happened a lot during my stay.
—Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
The novel explores the life of Scott Treder, a 47-year-old biology technician who begins experiencing involuntary jumps through time, and there’s been interest in mounting a feature adaptation for some time.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2025
Most were an involuntary removal and include providers such as Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green and Frankfort Independent Schools in Frankfort, among dozens of others.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for involuntary
Adjective
-
Elvyn Yohel Ramos Routt County Investigators also said Ramos filed an insurance claim reporting the fire as accidental.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In another show, with a lesser writer, such incongruities could be read as character inconsistencies, accidental oversights, mistakes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The battle for the Group of 5 automatic bid is wide open in Week 11.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Say, for example, that a restaurant’s menu states that an automatic 18% charge will be added to all bills for parties of six or more customers.—
Cheryl Winokur Munk,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
More recently, the church was sued by a former employee over a policy of compulsory tithing.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
-
The core design feature is compulsory arbitration, where everyone agrees that if there is a dispute, it is heard by a process overseen by the commissioner—and unlike litigation, it is conducted in private.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
While spontaneous mentions of high prices increased for a fifth month, inflation expectations eased over the longer term.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
This could look like spontaneous travel plans, shifting your career focus or even a spiritual awakening.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Products like tractors, sprayers, irrigation equipment, mechanical pickers and fertilizer will also be exempt from the tax with the new cards.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Shouts for it will be met by angry fingers jutted towards the various gaffes played ad nauseam on Sky Sports’ weekly Ref Watch, or the mandatory pause before the emotional unleashing as VAR mulls over whether a goal is a goal or just a hoax.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Many are pulling six-day work weeks with mandatory overtime, and increasing numbers have begun calling out as the financial strain and exhaustion mount.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The government had been unable - or unwilling - to fix it.—
NPR,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
-
In the rare case where someone is unwilling to seek help and a danger to themselves or others, the law enforcement officer is authorized to take someone to the hospital to be assessed against their will.—
Eva Wen,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
But largely absent from the show was a pain management disorder – reflex neurovascular dystrophy, also known as complex regional pain syndrome – that Sioux has dealt with for much of her life.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
In each case, there's a recognition that some players might want to explore a game's world—to experience the characters, art, and dialogue that the developers worked so hard to craft—without struggling through mechanical reflex tests or grindy, repetitive challenges.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/involuntary. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share