involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˌ)in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē 
-ˌte-rē
Synonyms
Examples of involuntary in a Sentence
Breathing and circulation are involuntary processes.
When the door burst open, she let out an involuntary shriek.
The lawyer argued that the client's confession was involuntary.
Recent Examples on the Web
Few involuntary behaviors feel as off-putting as snoring.
—
Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Laughter and tears are both reactive, one more traditionally public and the other normally reserved for private, but each a sign of something involuntary and each capable of providing a different kind of catharsis.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024
Today, the legal standards for involuntary psychiatric treatment state that a person must be an imminent danger to themselves or others.
—Eva Wen, Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
Financial hard times, lawsuits, firing employees, sickness, tragedy, divorce, cross-country moves, and worries about children are all part of this involuntary hardship.
—Matt Reynolds, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for involuntary 
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Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Laughter and tears are both reactive, one more traditionally public and the other normally reserved for private, but each a sign of something involuntary and each capable of providing a different kind of catharsis.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024
Today, the legal standards for involuntary psychiatric treatment state that a person must be an imminent danger to themselves or others.
—Eva Wen, Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
Financial hard times, lawsuits, firing employees, sickness, tragedy, divorce, cross-country moves, and worries about children are all part of this involuntary hardship.
—Matt Reynolds, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for involuntary
Dictionary Entries Near involuntary
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involuntary. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˈ)in-ˈväl-ən-ˌter-ē
1
: not made or done willingly or from choice : unwilling
2
: being enforced or required : mandatory
3
: not normally under the control of the will
an involuntary response to a stimulus
Medical Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˈ)in-ˈväl-ən-ˌter-ē
: not subject to control of the will : reflex
involuntary contractions
Legal Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē
: done, made, or initiated contrary to or without one's choice
an involuntary confession
an involuntary lien
an involuntary plaintiff joined in the action
involuntarily
adverb
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