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

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. voluntaryadjective

   Antonyms:
   compulsory, involuntary, obligatory

   Synonyms:
   willful, optional, discretionary, volitional

2. voluntaryadjective

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

   Antonyms:
   involuntary, obligatory, compulsory

   Synonyms:
   volitional, willful, optional, discretionary

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

   Antonyms:
   compulsory, coercive, necessitated, involuntary

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

Matched Categories

1. • Physiology

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. volunteer, military volunteer, voluntarynoun

   (military) a person who freely enlists for service

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

   Synonyms:
   unpaid worker, military volunteer, volunteer

2. voluntaryadjective

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

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

   Synonyms:
   military volunteer, volunteer

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

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

1. voluntaryadjective

   Antonyms:
   involuntary

   Synonyms:
   free, volitional, unforced, spontaneous

How to use voluntary in a sentence?

1. Tom Fahy:

   Making music is voluntary. Unlike bread, we don’t require it for our sustenance. Accordingly, music shouldn’t require its pound of flesh from the would-be listener. The price of art should be set by the market, by the listener, not by a machine with political interests.

2. Andreas Scheuer:

   We are nearly done with the 2.5 million affected VW cars. For the other voluntary upgrades I have informed the manufacturers that they must present a time plan showing when they will deliver.

3. Caroline Polisi:

   We are here on a voluntary basis. We have answered all of your questions thus far. It is my advice to him that he not talk specifically about the offense conduct.

4. Prime Minister Manuel Valls:

   We have to go further and explore new avenues, a structure will be created by the end of the year to take charge, on a voluntary basis, of young people returning from conflict zones who are not, of course, being prosecuted.

5. Greg Ioki:

   We're hoping to maintain as many employees as possible, all of our managerial staff is taking a voluntary 20 % pay cut in their bottom line so we can ensure that we can keep the rest of our employees happy and employed.

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