1
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
2
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
3
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of voluntary
That compares with 8,663 voluntary departures for the previous fiscal year.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
McCarthy pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for testifying against four of his co-conspirators, per The Bay Area Reporter.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
After buyouts, early retirements, voluntary separations and a Reduction in Force, the agency was shrunk nearly in half earlier this year.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2025
Lewis, 50, was initially charged with murder as an aider and abettor, but pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in state prison.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for voluntary
Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
McCarthy pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for testifying against four of his co-conspirators, per The Bay Area Reporter.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
After buyouts, early retirements, voluntary separations and a Reduction in Force, the agency was shrunk nearly in half earlier this year.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2025
Lewis, 50, was initially charged with murder as an aider and abettor, but pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in state prison.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
-
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
8 Oct. 2025
-
However, Tesla retained core software, charging capabilities, and active safety features, keeping access to its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system as an optional purchase.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
From distant bear sightings early in the hunt, activity had escalated to what appeared to be close-up and conscious bear participation in the daily deer harvest.—
Marguerite Reiss,
Outdoor Life,
9 Oct. 2025
-
First responders freed the child, who was conscious and breathing, and he was transported to Rady Children’s Hospital.—
Kristina Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Much depends on whether Arab governments are willing to take ownership of Gaza—to manage it, rebuild it, and ensure Hamas or any similar terrorist group can't rise again.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Over the past couple of years, Timbaland has positioned himself as one of the few contemporary pop figures willing to fully embrace the use of artificial intelligence in music.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
War would also mean no deliberate, orderly transfer of some 12,000 Islamic State detainees from Kurdish to Syrian state prisons.—
Hassan Hassan,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Hints of unease momentarily heightened as the Spartans — deliberate and layered — went to work.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Neither that notice nor the agenda for the meeting, posted the day before, gave details about which property the board would be voting on or its intended use.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Nearly a decade later, the spacecraft has delivered unprecedented research of the Jovian system, observing the gas giant, its many moons and faint ring system long past its intended lifespan.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This is luxury filtered through skate sensibility, where imperfection becomes intentional and wear tells a story.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
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Her words reminded me that processing loss is valid and necessary, and that grief can coexist with intentional reflection and recalibration.—
Essence,
Essence,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Given no choice, María Ángeles acquiesces to her daughter’s wishes and moves into the seniors’ home, where a hilarious exchange with a hairdresser wanting to chop off her long silver tresses typifies her iron-willed refusal to settle in.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
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Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Voluntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voluntary. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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