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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of involuntary
Low magnesium impacts calcium levels, making muscles more prone to involuntary spasms.17
Magnesium is also involved in energy production.
—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
Fourth-Degree Data This data is generated from involuntary actions by individuals without their awareness or intention for it to be collected.
—James Felton Keith, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for involuntary 
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
Fourth-Degree Data This data is generated from involuntary actions by individuals without their awareness or intention for it to be collected.
—James Felton Keith, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for involuntary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for involuntary
Adjective
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DeGuerin showed Morales just how plausible an accidental shooting would be with this type of gun.Morgan Canty, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025
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Rogers police officers testified at the trial that evidence showed the shooting was accidental, which is why a warrant for manslaughter was issued for the teen's arrest.Tracy Neal, arkansasonline.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The software utilizes a person’s Expected Movement Record and other data sources—such as visa data, profiles, in-country events, and API/PNR data—to issue automatic risk assessment scores for each traveler.Caitlin Chandler, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2025
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Update any automatic payments with your new card number.Fernanda Galan, Sacramento Bee, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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With the area now under a compulsory evacuation order, even those whose homes survived the inferno need to go elsewhere for the foreseeable future.CBS News, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2025
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Less than half of workers age 62-64 wanted to retire, and almost 90% believed that there should be no compulsory retirement at 65.James Chappel / Made by History, TIME, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The spontaneous TikTok video has struck a chord with many viewers on the platform who weighed in on how the brand styled its stores in the past.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
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There are benefits to being in the same space—like brainstorming in real-time, spontaneous problem-solving, and just reconnecting as a team.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Will a mechanical dispenser be any more precise than standard teaspoons?Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 11 Jan. 2025
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There is something about mechanical complexity, even for its own sake, that just makes some collectors swoon, and just about no complications is as superfluous today as the tourbillon.Blake Buettner, Robb Report, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The four-day firestorm has resulted in 10 deaths so far, with more than 9,000 structures damaged or destroyed and more than 150,000 people still under mandatory evacuation orders, as of Friday afternoon.Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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Here's where mandatory evacuation orders are in place for Californians.Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Talks in Qatar have focused on narrowing long-standing gaps between Hamas and Israel, with both sides unwilling to compromise on key demands.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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But the findings offer a promising starting point for those who may be unwilling or unable to engage in more traditional workouts.Hannah Singleton, Health, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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When the reflex actions are prevented, those muscle movements that ultimately cause the quick spoilage don’t occur.Simon Mainwaring, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
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Basal tears keep the eye moist, while reflex tears are meant to protect the eye from irritants like dust.Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near involuntary
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/involuntary. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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