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
State prisons, which employ nearly 40,000 inmates for 16 to 74 cents per hour, would no longer be allowed to use involuntary servitude as punishment for crime or discipline for those who refuse to work.
—
Shawna Chen, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024
Boeing will refrain from asking for voluntary departures to limit severance cash and avoid an exodus of skills, sources said, adding the company will rely solely on involuntary layoffs.
—Reuters, NBC News, 15 Oct. 2024
Some airlines stood out among their competitors by taking a people-first approach to crisis management, finding creative solutions to avoid mandating involuntary furloughs for pilots.
—Alex (aleksandr) Celiadin, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Whether the practice is active versus passive and voluntary versus involuntary can further impact how it is viewed.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for involuntary 
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Shawna Chen, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024
Boeing will refrain from asking for voluntary departures to limit severance cash and avoid an exodus of skills, sources said, adding the company will rely solely on involuntary layoffs.
—Reuters, NBC News, 15 Oct. 2024
Some airlines stood out among their competitors by taking a people-first approach to crisis management, finding creative solutions to avoid mandating involuntary furloughs for pilots.
—Alex (aleksandr) Celiadin, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Whether the practice is active versus passive and voluntary versus involuntary can further impact how it is viewed.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 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 6 Nov. 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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