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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of voluntary
ByHeart, a next-generation baby nutrition company, has announced a voluntary recall of some batches of its powdered infant formula after federal authorities linked the product to an infant botulism outbreak.
—
James Powel, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
That voluntary directive has come to this unit.
—NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
No other ByHeart batches are impacted by this voluntary recall.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Nov. 2025
The rules aren’t final yet, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of wiggle room, since the language within the OBBBA is unambiguous — the tip has to be voluntary.
—Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for voluntary
James Powel, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
That voluntary directive has come to this unit.
—NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
No other ByHeart batches are impacted by this voluntary recall.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Nov. 2025
The rules aren’t final yet, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of wiggle room, since the language within the OBBBA is unambiguous — the tip has to be voluntary.
—Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 8 Nov. 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
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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
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And think of self-care as essential, not optional.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
5 Nov. 2025
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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,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Even calling it a magazine is a conscious way of trying to distinguish the work producers are putting months and months of effort into recording and writing from what podcasting has become.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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And while an uncertain economy and ever-skyrocketing cost of living are making people more price-conscious and wary, Razavi explained that this also opens up the possibilities for growth as consumers are now more open to other shopping avenues.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Senators in both parties seemed willing to try and continue working on the bill to pay government workers, although doing so would alleviate some of the current pressure to come to a deal.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Amazon, likewise, has been willing to buy to give it scale in a space, from MGM to Whole Foods.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Officials have yet to determine whether the explosion was accidental or deliberate.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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It should be said that the NTSB — the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the cause(s) of the crash — takes a very deliberate approach.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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It was knocked away in the end zone and kicked by Nebraska receiver Shevin Wiggins, the intended receiver.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The results can be especially bad if there is bright light behind the intended subject, which produces a silhouette effect.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Apartheid refers to something deliberate and intentional rather than a natural occurrence.—
April Quevedo,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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And that double entendre wasn’t even intentional.—
Alex Ross,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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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 13 Nov. 2025.
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