1
as in volunteer
done, made, or given with one's own free will
a voluntary contribution to the school's fund-raising drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in optional
subject to one's freedom of choice
participation in the resort's recreational activities is strictly voluntary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in conscious
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
the legal distinctions between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of voluntary
Mackenzie sued, arguing that under the Constitution, her American birth gave her citizenship as a right, not a privilege, to be removed only as punishment for a crime or through voluntary expatriation.
—
Marcia Biederman, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025
The voluntary recall issued on June 17 warned that potential undeclared milk allergens pose health risks to some with allergies or severe sensitivity to milk.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 July 2025
This is a voluntary measure that currently covers 60 percent of products and 90 percent of substances, and is not yet adopted by any other company in the industry.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 11 July 2025
That case ended in voluntary dismissal, with each side paying its own attorney’s fees.
—Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for voluntary
Marcia Biederman, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025
The voluntary recall issued on June 17 warned that potential undeclared milk allergens pose health risks to some with allergies or severe sensitivity to milk.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 12 July 2025
This is a voluntary measure that currently covers 60 percent of products and 90 percent of substances, and is not yet adopted by any other company in the industry.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 11 July 2025
That case ended in voluntary dismissal, with each side paying its own attorney’s fees.
—Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for voluntary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for voluntary
Adjective
-
Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2023
-
That’s noteworthy for a show based at a high-school auditorium in Litchfield and run by a staff that is almost entirely volunteer, including the show’s star and its producer.—
Susan Dunne,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2022
Adjective
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Compliance isn’t optional—staying informed and ahead of any local or statewide regulations around rent control, evictions or other tenant rights is essential to operate responsibly and sustainably while avoiding costly legal issues.—
Nathan Miller,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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If breaks are optional, are short breaks ever paid?—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Processing cheap rare earth is a nasty business using dangerous acid precursors that come with inherent risks, which bump up the prices of processing in the environmentally conscious West.—
Clem Chambers,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
The discovery triggered a kind of synaptic flooding, a wave of memory overwhelming its conscious embankment.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Marino knew all about those other things, and was willing to spill the information.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
Time,
22 July 2025
-
One paper published in 2023 found that 75 percent of more than 2,000 men surveyed in the U.S. and Canada were willing to try novel contraceptives.—
Hannah Seo,
Scientific American,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Choosing to slow decision-making processes and make deliberate moves can seem radical in a competitive business market, but this investment over time can result in significant changes with lasting effects.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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While clutter implies disorganization or neglect, the messy girl look is a deliberate embrace of imperfection that still feels cozy and intentional.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Coupling price transparency reforms with policies that address the abuses by contract pharmacies and ensure that 340B hospitals serve their intended purpose can rein in the 340B program materially improve drug affordability.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
But during the protracted legal wrangling the growth cap stayed in place — and served its intended purpose.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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For example, many industries are intentional about cultivating parasocial relationships, such as professional sports leagues with their athletes, music companies with their artists, and even political parties with their candidates.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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As the investigation continues, a growing body of evidence suggests the possibility that the crash was intentional, fueled debate over how pilots are screened, supported and monitored for mental health concerns.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Connor McDavid almost single-handedly willed the Oilers to a comeback win in Game 1 with four points from the end of the second period onward.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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The forward almost willed the Lions to the Final Four, averaging 35.0 points per game over four games.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Voluntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voluntary. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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