1
as in accidental
not made or done willingly or by choice
my long stays on the sidelines during our football games were strictly involuntary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision
breathing is involuntary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compulsory
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law
the abolition of involuntary servitude by civilized society
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 involuntary
Andrew Tate when a detective brings up the potential role of the involuntary celibacy subculture.
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
Rather than give additional powers to nurse practitioners, the Senate would ensure that only doctors have the authority to certify involuntary admissions.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2025
Intrusive and impulsive thoughts are both involuntary and unexpected.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 13 Mar. 2025
Their food and any other necessities are brought to the doors of their rooms by workers in hazmat suits, and security personnel are on hand to enforce—violently, if need be—the guests’ involuntary solitary confinement.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
Rather than give additional powers to nurse practitioners, the Senate would ensure that only doctors have the authority to certify involuntary admissions.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2025
Intrusive and impulsive thoughts are both involuntary and unexpected.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 13 Mar. 2025
Their food and any other necessities are brought to the doors of their rooms by workers in hazmat suits, and security personnel are on hand to enforce—violently, if need be—the guests’ involuntary solitary confinement.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for involuntary
Adjective
-
Similarly, an accidental executor can be the trustee of a revocable trust after the grantor has passed away.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D.,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
What followed was part social experiment, part accidental soul-baring, and slightly more fun than doomscrolling solo.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This opens up the possibility of Wycombe either clinching automatic promotion before their two rivals play, or the door being prised open for either Wrexham or Charlton to nip through and set up a nerve-wracking final day.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Congress tried to address this issue by passing the Child Citizenship Act in 2000, which grants automatic citizenship to international adoptees.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Jack would begin a compulsory ninety-day psychiatric evaluation in the California Institution for Men in Chino, a rough place known to be brutal to younger inmates for the same possession charges.—
Susannah Cahalan,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Now, Weight Watchers isn’t exactly facing bankruptcy because people everywhere are suddenly looking inward and agreeing to throw off the shackles of compulsory thinness.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
What begins as a seemingly spontaneous family journey gradually reveals deeper layers of both grief and resilience, as Ella starts to sense that her father’s intentions may be masking a more profound truth.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Additional footage showed the family breaking out into spontaneous dance moments after the selection was made.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Traditional mechanical recycling can't handle this mess; DePoly’s low-cost, low-energy chemical process can.—
Marianne Lehnis,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This even prohibits complimenting the food, which is practically considered mandatory these days.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Alvarez had held the undisputed super middleweight crown, but the IBF stripped Alvarez of its belt in July 2024 after Alvarez failed to make a mandatory title defense against Scull.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But a number of lawmakers in the party’s right flank remained entrenched in opposition to the measure, unwilling to waver from that resistance despite intense pressure from Trump himself.—
Mychael Schnell,
The Hill,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Trump’s tariffs are the wrong reaction, but too many of those attacking them are unwilling to admit there are grave flaws in the international trade regime.—
Robert D. Atkinson,
National Review,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But ultimately, the week ended with a pretty good array of extremes in selling pressure and hedging demand of the sort that should turn the risk-reward more favorable for a reflex bounce before too long.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
-
The reflex reaction would be to suggest that without Stiller and Goretzka, Germany lost control in midfield.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/involuntary. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share