VOLUNTARY Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'voluntary' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of voluntary are deliberate , intentional , and willing . While all these words mean "done or brought about of one's own will," voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion. // a voluntary confession

Q: Where would 'deliberate' be a reasonable alternative to 'voluntary'?

While the synonyms deliberate and voluntary are close in meaning, deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences. // deliberate acts of sabotage

Q: When is it sensible to use 'intentional' instead of 'voluntary'?

Although the words intentional and voluntary have much in common, intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved. // the intentional concealment of vital information

Q: When could 'willing' be used to replace 'voluntary'?

The synonyms willing and voluntary are sometimes interchangeable, but willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another. // willing obedience

voluntary

adjective

ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē

Definition of voluntary

as in volunteer

done, made, or given with one's own free will a voluntary contribution to the school's fund-raising drive

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in optional

subject to one's freedom of choice participation in the resort's recreational activities is strictly voluntary

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in conscious

made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing the legal distinctions between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word voluntary different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of voluntary are deliberate, intentional, and willing. While all these words mean "done or brought about of one's own will," voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

Where would deliberate be a reasonable alternative to voluntary?

While the synonyms deliberate and voluntary are close in meaning, deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

When is it sensible to use intentional instead of voluntary?

Although the words intentional and voluntary have much in common, intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

When could willing be used to replace voluntary?

The synonyms willing and voluntary are sometimes interchangeable, but willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

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 voluntary This week’s voluntary exit offer arrived just months after Microsoft laid off 4,800 employees, cuts that impacted its Xbox and commercial sales teams the most. — Tom Warren, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026 Years of voluntary monitoring and private for profit auditing have failed to bring about real change for most workers. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026 The work that the private sector does with it and its British counterpart is voluntary and not required by law. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026 The company is also participating in the US government’s voluntary pre-release model testing process. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for voluntary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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

What has changed is my awareness of how often access is treated as optional or an afterthought.

— Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
As jackets and ties have gone from essential to optional, the shirt has increasingly become the most visible piece of the modern man’s wardrobe.

— Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of optional

Adjective

Now, Tan-Gillespie is tasked with getting KFC’s American business back on track as the brand faces growing competition paired with more health-conscious and cash-strapped consumers.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
And while Kim tends to gravitate toward body-conscious silhouettes and plenty of skin, Kris has made a signature of sharp tailoring, statement accessories, and an unapologetic dose of flash.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of conscious

Adjective

He is helped by his god-daughter Saga (Zazie Beetz), who is a top FBI agent willing to go undercover in a psychiatric hospital to get close to Walter.

— Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 4 Nov. 2026
Historically, Miami-Dade voters haven’t been willing to endorse paying commissioners more.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of willing

Adjective

This includes deliberate misuse by bad actors for cyberattacks, and also situations where humans lose control of advanced AI systems.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
The reality is that this effect was a deliberate design choice to soften the edges of the villa and smooth out its different volumes.

— Francesca Longoni, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of deliberate

Adjective

North Korea’s Missile Administration said its cluster warheads fall into four categories, depending on their intended purpose.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
Any experimentation should check intended uses and ingredient restrictions first, particularly before applying lip products near the eyes.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of intended

Adjective

The intentional two-to-one ratio of cornmeal to flour in this cornbread results in a moist, tender crumb that still has enough structure to hold up against the sturdy mix-ins.

— Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Generally coyotes pose little threat to humans unless they have been habituated through intentional or unintentional feeding.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of intentional

Adjective

There are few occasions that garner such good-willed camaraderie in New York City as the annual marathon, though the Knicks historic win this summer brought people out into the streets in rivaling numbers.

— Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Originally unveiled at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show and put into production in 2005, the Bugatti Veyron was a moonshot project essentially willed into existence by Ferdinand Piëch.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of willed

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voluntarily

voluntary

volunteer

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“Voluntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voluntary. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of voluntary

adjective

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