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
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
The Association of American Medical Colleges should coordinate a voluntary sentinel system across member institutions.
—
Robert B. Shpiner, STAT, 13 Feb. 2026
After six of the governors meet with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum late last month in a last-ditch effort to reach a deal, Colorado's state river commissioner Becky Mitchell had said the four Upper Basin states were committed to conserving water, but only on a voluntary basis.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The mayor’s team implemented a voluntary retirement program for eligible employees last year, as well as consolidated city departments and asked their heads to parse their budgets to find inefficiencies.
—Abby Church, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
If the voluntary water conservation efforts aren’t enough, the South Florida Water Management District can issue mandatory water use restrictions.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for voluntary
Robert B. Shpiner, STAT, 13 Feb. 2026
After six of the governors meet with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum late last month in a last-ditch effort to reach a deal, Colorado's state river commissioner Becky Mitchell had said the four Upper Basin states were committed to conserving water, but only on a voluntary basis.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026
The mayor’s team implemented a voluntary retirement program for eligible employees last year, as well as consolidated city departments and asked their heads to parse their budgets to find inefficiencies.
—Abby Church, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
If the voluntary water conservation efforts aren’t enough, the South Florida Water Management District can issue mandatory water use restrictions.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 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
Adjective
-
Many cameras offer optional subscription services for cloud storage and advanced AI features.—
Trisha Easto,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Insecticide This method usually follows the heat treatment method and is optional.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In June 2023, the court held that race-conscious admissions programs violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, effectively curtailing the consideration of race in colleges nationwide.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Cost-conscious travelers should note the airport is raising parking rates, including a 40% jump at the Daily Deck, to help fund safety, infrastructure and reliability upgrades, The Charlotte Observer reported.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Cuba does not appear to have any remaining allies willing to supply the hundreds of millions of dollars-worth of fuel needed to power the economy.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Yet, the only thing the Giants seemed willing to spend freely this offseason was those true fans’ patience.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These were deliberate choices to value political optics over wise and practical energy policy.—
Justin Ready,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, nerve agents like Novichoks are tightly controlled, and any deliberate use against humans is prohibited.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Miller has noticed that many diners are following the intended model, stopping at several locations in one night.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In January, when Elliott married Blake Murray, their officiant was the intended father.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Small, intentional touches can instantly brighten your home’s exterior.—
Lauren Jones,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The partnership is intentional.—
Derek James,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In addition to Marmee, there’s Aunt March who serves as an even stronger willed maternal figure for the March sisters.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Toolson made his first five shots in the second half and almost willed TCU to a comeback by himself.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Voluntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voluntary. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
