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 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 That original documentation was directly linked to the president's executive order, calling for involuntary commitment of people experiencing homelessness. — Quil Lawrence, NPR, 25 June 2026 Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 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
  • As of July 9, 142 accidental shootings have resulted in 49 deaths and 97 injuries, according to the tracker.
    — Rene Ray De La Cruz, USA Today, 18 July 2026
  • More than 900 children die from accidental drownings each year.
    — Tana Carson, The Conversation, 17 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
  • Neighbors of the state park who have become accustomed to spontaneous visits found that the new system hampers their ability to make a last-minute trip.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
  • But attorneys Reid Kingsbury for Payton and Linda Parisi for Martin argued the two men, though armed that night, were caught in a burst of spontaneous gunfire triggered by Sergio Harris and fired back to defend themselves.
    — Darrell Smith July 16, Sacbee.com, 17 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
  • Zambada’s punishment was guaranteed by his guilty plea last year to drug trafficking charges that carry a mandatory life sentence.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • The original bZ4X often felt like Toyota showing up because attendance was mandatory.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • But controversies are plaguing the league, Clark has become an unwilling symbol of racial polarization and GOP members of Congress are entering the fray.
    — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 17 July 2026
  • LeVota has said that the county is unwilling to settle out of court.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 17 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on involuntary

Nglish: Translation of involuntary for Spanish Speakers

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