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 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 Its Reactivity Monitor watches shifts in the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary reactions through two branches. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 7 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
  • One approach is spontaneous; the other is designed to create continuity over years.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The convergence was striking, though not entirely spontaneous.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 31 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
  • Patrons unwilling to feel quite so liberated can leave their bathrobes on all evening long, Hart says.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Edelman Trust Barometer annual report for 2026 found that 70% of respondents across 28 nations are hesitant or unwilling to trust someone who holds different views or supports different approaches to societal problems.
    — Kurt Shillinger, Christian Science Monitor, 30 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 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on involuntary

Nglish: Translation of involuntary for Spanish Speakers

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