Antonyms for involuntary
ɪnˈvɒl ənˌtɛr iin·vol·un·ta·ry

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. involuntaryadjective

   Synonyms:
   unvoluntary

2. involuntaryadjective

   Without intention; unintentional.

   He involuntarily overheard the conversation.

   Synonyms:
   unvoluntary

3. involuntaryadjective

   Not voluntary or willing; contrary or opposed to explicit will or desire; unwilling.

   He found himself the involuntary witness in the trial.

   Synonyms:
   unvoluntary

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. involuntary

   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, spontaneous, unbidden, voluntary, willing

Matched Categories

1. • Physiology

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. involuntary, nonvoluntary, unvoluntaryadjective

   not subject to the control of the will

   "involuntary manslaughter"; "involuntary servitude"; "an involuntary shudder"; "It (becoming a hero) was involuntary. They sank my boat"- John F.Kennedy

   Antonyms:
   unpaid, uncoerced, self-imposed, willful, wilful, willing, voluntary, volunteer(a), unforced, freewill

   Synonyms:
   nonvoluntary, unvoluntary

2. involuntaryadjective

   controlled by the autonomic nervous system; without conscious control

   "involuntary muscles"; "gave an involuntary start"

   Antonyms:
   unforced, freewill, volunteer(a), voluntary, uncoerced, wilful, willful, willing, unpaid, self-imposed

   Synonyms:
   nonvoluntary, unvoluntary

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. involuntaryadjective

   Synonyms:
   uncontrollable, instinctive, automatic, compulsory, forced

How to use involuntary in a sentence?

1. Alexandra Minna Stern:

   Under those laws, about 60,000 people were sterilized in procedures that we would qualify today as being compulsory, forced, involuntary, and under the justifications that the people who were being sterilized were unfit to reproduce.

2. Václav Havel:

   Human beings are compelled to live within a lie, but they can be compelled to do so only because they are in fact capable of living in this way. Therefore not only does the system alienate humanity, but at the same time alienated humanity supports this system as its own involuntary master plan, as a degenerate image of its own degeneration, as a record of people's own failure as individuals.

3. Paul Donovan:

   This involuntary saving could be spent. It will depend on fear and trust, fear of the virus and fear of unemployment need to be low. Trust in government policy needs to be relatively high.

4. Michael Jerrett:

   Air pollution is an involuntary risk factor, we all breathe the air, and this should create a stronger incentive for government to take action to reduce emissions that lead to air pollution.

5. Gerald Christensen:

   We've always said the case actually is an involuntary manslaughter (case) -- that it was an accidental overdose and a subsequent panic and a failure to call 911, i think she has tremendous amount of relief that this ordeal is closing.

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