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

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 Some residents are reluctant to file complaints with state ombudsmen, fearing retaliation or even involuntary discharge, said Jayla Sanchez-Warren, director of the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging. — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026 The odd name, part of the carmaker’s rebadging, usually connotes involuntary movement. — James Raia, Mercury News, 5 July 2026 Hospital staff reportedly told them Vincent was exhibiting agonal breathing, an involuntary reflex that can occur near death. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 With more advanced cameras and larger data sets, involuntary behavior such as heart rate and skin flushness could also be tracked. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 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
  • In this study, the system focused on scene generation and automatic evaluation rather than continuous self-retraining after every mistake.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
  • Nearly one in five participants raised their savings rate, largely through automatic increases.
    — Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of automatic
Adjective
  • That steady flow of compulsory contributions, rather than the account itself, is what built Australia’s vast retirement savings pool.
    — Kris Iyer, Fortune, 22 July 2026
  • The film is a reminder that conformity is never compulsory, and that putting yourself out there is the only way to find out who’s ready to catch you.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • And, contrary to the fantasies of libertarians, no good road net has ever emerged from the spontaneous actions of individuals maximizing their own welfare and without collective action through government.
    — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 July 2026
  • Corrin remembers getting a custom leather wash bag at Hôtel de Crillon in Paris but says a spontaneous gesture meant even more.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of spontaneous
Adjective
  • The trailer relies on a hitch coupler force sensor to provide continuous feedback on the pull on the tow vehicle, managing the trailer's movement by increasing motor output or applying the electro-mechanical brakes located at all four wheels.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 July 2026
  • Heavy-duty mechanical hinges connect titanium-alloy limbs to a protective casing of carbon fiber, enabling smooth, deliberate strides on brutish red legs.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 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
  • Iran wants full control over the Strait of Hormuz and seems unwilling to settle, analysts said.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 July 2026
  • The surprise element to this move is that Madrid themselves had been unwilling to sign him until very recently.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 24 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/involuntary. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on involuntary

Nglish: Translation of involuntary for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inveigle

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All