volitional

adjective

as in voluntary
done, made, or given with one's own free will believes in destiny and doubts that most decisions are truly volitional

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 volitional The researchers highlight how conversational agents like ChatGPT offer solutions or answers to given prompts in volitional and affirmative wording, which can build user trust and encourage self-disclosure. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volitional
  1. voluntary
  2. volunteer
  3. willing
Adjective
  • Yes, indeed, although voluntary export restraints raise a series of technical issues.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The voluntary settlement agreement does not require a monetary payment, and the university does not admit to any wrongdoing or liability.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of voluntary
Adjective
  • Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups.
    — Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2023
  • That’s noteworthy for a show based at a high-school auditorium in Litchfield and run by a staff that is almost entirely volunteer, including the show’s star and its producer.
    — Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2022
Definition of volunteer
Adjective
  • Ours is a society in which those intrepid few who are willing to engage with their surroundings will find no eyes or ears to receive them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But that has been changing since the pandemic, as consumers became more interested, knowledgable and willing to experiment with fragrances than ever.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of willing

Browse Nearby Words

volition
volitional
volitions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Volitional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volitional. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vocation

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

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

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All