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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of involuntary
Aurora’s family home had been taken by involuntary eminent domain so her Latino neighborhood could be razed.
—
James Burling, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
Of the calls police responded to, 443 resulted in an emergency detention, or an involuntary mental health hold known as a Chapter 51 hold.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
There was, however, a fateful exception: slavery or involuntary servitude would remain permissible as punishment for crimes.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 June 2025
If a debtor is found to have fraudulently transferred assets in the one year prior to the commencement of a bankruptcy case (either voluntary or involuntary), the court is required under Bankruptcy Code 727 to deny the debtor's discharge.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
James Burling, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
Of the calls police responded to, 443 resulted in an emergency detention, or an involuntary mental health hold known as a Chapter 51 hold.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
There was, however, a fateful exception: slavery or involuntary servitude would remain permissible as punishment for crimes.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 June 2025
If a debtor is found to have fraudulently transferred assets in the one year prior to the commencement of a bankruptcy case (either voluntary or involuntary), the court is required under Bankruptcy Code 727 to deny the debtor's discharge.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for involuntary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for involuntary
Adjective
-
Today, even minor missteps—whether accidental or intentional—can rapidly escalate, leading to public crises that damage reputations and erode the trust organizations have worked hard to build.—
Maria Trochimezuk,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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Despite suspicions of foul play from both U.S. and Zambian officials, local police declared Bianca’s death the result of an accidental discharge of a firearm.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Nathan Kaufman, a health care consultant and long-time Palomar observer who has been critical of recent leadership decisions, said that the pact between Palomar and UCSD is not an automatic win given the current state of health care margins.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 July 2025
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The service, launched in 2021, offered unlimited photo and video storage to AT&T’s Protect Advantage plan subscribers with the convenience of automatic backup at full quality and no data charges when backing up over AT&T’s network.—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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For example, Department of Education regulators are tasked with determining what subjects private institutions are teaching and if their curriculum adheres to compulsory education standards.—
Adina Mermelstein Konikoff,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
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Written as the compulsory number for the middle school division of the 92nd NHK All-Japan School Choir Competition, the song launched with 26,388 downloads to hit No. 1 for metric, while coming in at No. 16 for streaming, No. 15 for video, and No. 56 for radio.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
The demanding executive might uncover a passion for art; the strategic planner might embrace spontaneous adventure.—
Lorraine Wiseman,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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First described in 2021, Marbach-Schaaf Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a spontaneous (non-inherited) mutation in the PRKAR1B gene.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
22 July 2025
-
Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Pakistan now faces a mandatory review — a final phase requiring endorsement from key FATF members.—
Jack Rosen,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
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So why haven’t more cities made curbside composting easier, or even mandatory? Curbside Composting Is Growing, But Access Lags California and Vermont are the only two states that currently mandate some form of household curbside composting access; Washington state’s law becomes effective in 2030.—
Heather Wishart-Smith,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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The one stipulation that Olney reported was that the Royals were unwilling to part with the core of their pitching staff.—
Hunter Mulholland,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Lacking clear guidance on what constitutes acceptable use of AI, more than half are unwilling to admit using AI at work.—
Anjali Chaudhry,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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That leads to the second category: a simple reflex agent with state.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Some bass-heavy speakers can create an annoying booming sound from the reflex port at the rear of the speaker.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/involuntary. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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