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
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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
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Recent Examples of involuntary
Her mental health began to suffer, and following two involuntary psychiatric holds and losing custody of her sons in 2008, Jamie Spears was granted a temporary conservatorship over his daughter.
—
Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Violators can also avoid charges if less than six months before the incident, they were released after involuntary commitment to a mental health treatment center.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 4 Mar. 2026
Davidson’s Tourette’s causes involuntary tics, and he was heard cursing throughout the show, however the BBC failed to censor the N-word during its broadcast, causing further harm.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
The Learning, Inclusion and Talent Committee will assemble on Wednesday, and two sources said that BAFTA’s handling of John Davidson’s involuntary racial slurs was on the agenda for the meeting.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Violators can also avoid charges if less than six months before the incident, they were released after involuntary commitment to a mental health treatment center.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 4 Mar. 2026
Davidson’s Tourette’s causes involuntary tics, and he was heard cursing throughout the show, however the BBC failed to censor the N-word during its broadcast, causing further harm.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
The Learning, Inclusion and Talent Committee will assemble on Wednesday, and two sources said that BAFTA’s handling of John Davidson’s involuntary racial slurs was on the agenda for the meeting.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for involuntary
Adjective
-
The infant and its 2-year-old sibling were removed from their parents’ home in May 2025 and placed in foster care after the baby suffered non-accidental injuries.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
In a statement shared with The Baltimore Sun, a spokesperson for the department said that the pepper spray discharge was from the accidental triggering of a keychain canister and impacted at least 11 of the 31 students on board.—
Brian Carlton,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Aggies received an automatic bid to the tournament after beating San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference tournament.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The Phoenix were the Horizon League regular-season champion and earned the conference’s automatic berth by beating Youngstown State for the league’s tournament championship.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Iranian authorities enforce laws like compulsory dress codes through Draconian forms of punishment — harassment, arrests, imprisonment, and violence.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
-
According to Article 15 in the new law, Mandarin Chinese is mandated to be taught to all children before kindergarten and throughout the rest of compulsory education up to the end of high school.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The project imagines a Joseon princess whose songs conjure spontaneous wonderlands, before a moonlit portal transports her to a mysterious palace of history’s greatest artists.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
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More and more, following along with their wildest, most spontaneous impulses proves rewarding.—
Samuel Hyland,
Pitchfork,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
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These materials reflect the efficiency of natural systems while offering exceptional mechanical and functional properties for industrial use.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The legislation now requires federal agencies to screen applicants for ties to countries of concern — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — with mandatory disclosure of foreign affiliations, pre-award screening, and post-award reporting.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
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Those restrictions — last implemented in 2013 — would require mandatory reductions in outdoor water use.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As someone who’s curious about lightweight backpacking but unwilling to leave behind my 350-page novel, cutting my pack’s base weight could be my window into the ultralight world.—
Amelia Arvesen,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
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After the brief interruption, Green shook off the incident and finished the set, unwilling to let one audience member derail the night.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Every time missiles fly over the Middle East, the same reflex kicks in: Traders panic, headlines scream about $100 oil, and columnists invoke the 1973 Arab oil embargo.—
Wael Mahdi,
semafor.com,
1 Mar. 2026
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There was a reflex stop on a David Kämpf flash rebound in the second period.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/involuntary. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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