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
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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
Mackenzie sued, arguing that under the Constitution, her American birth gave her citizenship as a right, not a privilege, to be removed only as punishment for a crime or through voluntary expatriation.
—
Marcia Biederman, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025
The voluntary recall issued on June 17 warned that potential undeclared milk allergens pose health risks to some with allergies or severe sensitivity to milk.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 July 2025
This is a voluntary measure that currently covers 60 percent of products and 90 percent of substances, and is not yet adopted by any other company in the industry.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 11 July 2025
That case ended in voluntary dismissal, with each side paying its own attorney’s fees.
—Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for voluntary
Marcia Biederman, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025
The voluntary recall issued on June 17 warned that potential undeclared milk allergens pose health risks to some with allergies or severe sensitivity to milk.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 July 2025
This is a voluntary measure that currently covers 60 percent of products and 90 percent of substances, and is not yet adopted by any other company in the industry.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 11 July 2025
That case ended in voluntary dismissal, with each side paying its own attorney’s fees.
—Miami Herald, 8 July 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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Compliance isn’t optional—staying informed and ahead of any local or statewide regulations around rent control, evictions or other tenant rights is essential to operate responsibly and sustainably while avoiding costly legal issues.—
Nathan Miller,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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If breaks are optional, are short breaks ever paid?—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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The discovery triggered a kind of synaptic flooding, a wave of memory overwhelming its conscious embankment.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
Processing cheap rare earth is a nasty business using dangerous acid precursors that come with inherent risks, which bump up the prices of processing in the environmentally conscious West.—
Clem Chambers,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Whatever deals come out of this year’s billionaire summer camp are likely to be less about building empires than guarding flanks — or selling out to private-equity firms willing to manage the decline.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
10 July 2025
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After having little luck finding a traditional TV outlet willing to double ESPN/ABC’s current $90 million/year deal, F1 seems to have found deliverance by way of its theatrical partner.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
The Great Replacement is a white nationalist conspiracy theory that claims there's a deliberate plot to replace white Americans with non-white immigrants through immigration and higher birth rates.—
Philippa Pham Hughes,
Time,
11 July 2025
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As Well As Talent In addition to local hiring and open-source opportunities, deliberate investment must be made in infrastructure, policy and support systems.—
Daniel Jebaraj,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
When Chan announced his company Changin’ Pictures’ plans for international and pan-Asian co-productions for streamers, this became his intended first series.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 June 2025
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The intended target, gang suspect Joseph Riley, lived nearby.—
Gabe Whisnant
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
From staying focused on real problems to designing flexible business models, small but intentional decisions along the way to launch can make all the difference.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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Visually speaking, Loudon says layered rugs make a patio feel finished and intentional.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Connor McDavid almost single-handedly willed the Oilers to a comeback win in Game 1 with four points from the end of the second period onward.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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The forward almost willed the Lions to the Final Four, averaging 35.0 points per game over four games.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Voluntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voluntary. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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