Synonyms for voluntary
ˈvɒl ənˌtɛr ivol·un·ta·ry

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. voluntaryadjective

   Synonyms:
   willful, optional, discretionary, volitional

   Antonyms:
   compulsory, involuntary, obligatory

2. voluntaryadjective

   Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.

   Synonyms:
   volitional, willful, optional, discretionary

   Antonyms:
   involuntary, obligatory, compulsory

3. voluntaryadjective

   A volunteer

   Synonyms:
   volitional, optional, willful, discretionary

   Antonyms:
   compulsory, obligatory, involuntary

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. voluntary

   That is spontaneous which is freely done, with no external compulsion and, in human actions, without special premeditation or distinct determination of the will; that is voluntary which is freely done with distinct act of will; that is involuntary which is independent of the will, and perhaps in opposition to it; a willing act is not only in accordance with will, but with desire. Thus voluntary and involuntary, which are antonyms of each other, are both partial synonyms of spontaneous. We speak of spontaneous generation, spontaneous combustion, spontaneous sympathy, an involuntary start, an unbidden tear, voluntary agreement, willing submission. A babe's smile in answer to that of its mother is spontaneous; the smile of a pouting child wheedled into good humor is involuntary. In physiology the action of the heart and lungs is called involuntary; the growth of the hair and nails is spontaneous; the action of swallowing is voluntary up to a certain point, beyond which it becomes involuntary or automatic. In the fullest sense of that which is not only without the will but distinctly in opposition to it, or compulsory, involuntary becomes an antonym, not only of voluntary but of spontaneous; as, involuntary servitude. A spontaneous outburst of applause is of necessity an act of volition, but so completely dependent on sympathetic impulse that it would seem frigid to call it voluntary, while to call it involuntary would imply some previous purpose or inclination not to applaud.

   Synonyms:
   automatic, free, impulsive, instinctive, involuntary, spontaneous, unbidden, willing

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. voluntary

   Synonyms:
   deliberate, spontaneous, free, intentional, optional, discretional, unconstrained, willing

   Antonyms:
   compulsory, coercive, necessitated, involuntary

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. volunteer, military volunteer, voluntarynoun

   (military) a person who freely enlists for service

   Synonyms:
   unpaid worker, military volunteer, volunteer

   Antonyms:
   unwilling, forced, unwilled, vegetative, unvoluntary, reflexive, involuntary, automatic, unconscious, driven, nonvoluntary, goaded, reflex(a), autonomic

2. voluntaryadjective

   composition (often improvised) for a solo instrument (especially solo organ) and not a regular part of a religious service or musical performance

   Synonyms:
   military volunteer, volunteer

   Antonyms:
   reflex(a), involuntary, unwilled, forced, unwilling, autonomic, reflexive, unconscious, automatic, nonvoluntary, unvoluntary, goaded, vegetative, driven

3. voluntaryadjective

   of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled

   "man is a voluntary agent"; "participation was voluntary"; "voluntary manslaughter"; "voluntary generosity in times of disaster"; "voluntary social workers"; "a voluntary confession"

   Antonyms:
   driven, vegetative, reflex(a), involuntary, reflexive, autonomic, unwilled, nonvoluntary, goaded, unwilling, automatic, unvoluntary, unconscious, forced

4. voluntaryadjective

   controlled by individual volition

   "voluntary motions"; "voluntary muscles"

   Antonyms:
   reflex(a), forced, vegetative, unconscious, involuntary, unvoluntary, nonvoluntary, autonomic, driven, reflexive, unwilling, unwilled, goaded, automatic

Matched Categories

1. • Physiology

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. voluntaryadjective

   Synonyms:
   spontaneous, free, unforced, unconstrained, without compulsion

2. voluntaryadjective

   Synonyms:
   willing, from inclination

3. voluntaryadjective

   Synonyms:
   designed, intended, intentional, purposed

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. voluntaryadjective

   Synonyms:
   free, volitional, unforced, spontaneous

   Antonyms:
   involuntary

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "voluntary":

   volunteer, volunteers, voluntarily, optional, volunteering, volontaires, freiwilligen, volontari, volunteerism, wilful, volontaire, deliberate, volunteered, voluntariness, freewill, spontaneous, intentional, boneheads

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How to use voluntary in a sentence?

1. Chris Dillingham:

   I filed the complaint in federal court because we are dealing with the government: Valencia State College. This is a constitutional federal rights claim. The vaginal probes and my client's right to refuse them without retribution; their First and Fourth Amendments were violated. although it was stated in orientation it was voluntary, it became increasingly clear it was not. This is a very expensive program, these are young women. ... I'm not a doctor but they have suffered significant psychological damage.

2. Paris Lewbel:

   We really couldn’t in good faith say this event could go on without the required law enforcement number being there at the event to provide security, we can’t force them or require them to work a special event or any overtime event for that matter – it’s really on a voluntary basis.

3. Eugen Weinberg:

   In order to avoid a price slide and a massive inventory build, OPEC+ would need to implement further voluntary production cuts, the challenge facing OPEC+ is thus likely to become even bigger next year, maintaining the pressure on the oil price.

4. Thaung Tun:

   If you can send back 700,000 on a voluntary basis, we are willing to receive them, can this be called ethnic cleansing ?

5. Beau Biden:

   Duty, honor, country : These are values that drive our service members, an all-voluntary outfit. President Trump has demonstrated President Trump has no sense of service ; no loyalty to any cause other than President Trump, if I have the honor to be the next commander in chief, I will ensure that our American heroes know that I have their back, honor their sacrifice, and those that have been injured will be in military parades.