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. Andreas Mundt:

   The only choice the user has is either to accept the comprehensive combination of data or to refrain from using the social network, in such a difficult situation the user's choice can not be referred to as voluntary consent.

2. Paton Walsh:

   This is a large, voluntary trafficking operation run by a drug cartel who control the route and are the law in this part of the Colombian border near Panama, you pay to get here, you pay to overnight here, you pay to walk on.

3. Eric Hargan:

   These children are not 'lost'; their sponsors—who are usually parents or family members and in all cases have been vetted for criminality and ability to provide for them—simply did not respond or could not be reached when this voluntary call was made.

4. Doug Collins:

   In a quest to score political points against the president, they authorized a pre-emptive subpoena, treating a voluntary witness as hostile.

5. Sarah Porter:

   This new provision, this money will fund voluntary conservation.

How to pronounce voluntary?

How to say voluntary in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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