Synonyms for spontaneous
spɒnˈteɪ ni əsspon·ta·neous

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.5 / 4 votes

1. spontaneous

   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, unbidden, voluntary, willing

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. spontaneous

   Synonyms:
   voluntary, self-generated, self-originated, self-evolved, willing, unbidden, gratuitous

   Antonyms:
   involuntary, imposed, compulsionary, unwilling, necessitated, coercive

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. spontaneous, self-generatedadjective

   happening or arising without apparent external cause

   "spontaneous laughter"; "spontaneous combustion"; "a spontaneous abortion"

   Synonyms:
   ad-lib, self-produced, self-generated, unwritten

   Antonyms:
   written, induced, scripted, evoked, iatrogenic, elicited

2. ad-lib, spontaneous, unwrittenadjective

   said or done without having been planned or written in advance

   "he made a few ad-lib remarks"

   Synonyms:
   unwritten, unrehearsed, ad-lib, oral, off-the-cuff, extemporaneous, extempore, self-generated, offhand, extemporary, impromptu, offhanded

   Antonyms:
   elicited, scripted, evoked, written, iatrogenic, induced

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spontaneousadjective

   Synonyms:
   voluntary, instinctive, uncompelled, unbidden, unconstrained, willing, gratuitous, free, of one's own accord

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

1. spontaneousadjective

   Synonyms:
   instinctive, voluntary, impulsive, unforced

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

1. List of paraphrases for "spontaneous":

   unsolicited, unprompted, self-activating, top-of-mind, automatic, unaided, voluntary, off-the-cuff

Suggested Resources

1. spontaneous

   Song lyrics by spontaneous -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by spontaneous on the Lyrics.com website.

How to pronounce spontaneous?

How to say spontaneous in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use spontaneous in a sentence?

1. Mikulas Redecha:

   With increasing age, the chances for spontaneous conception decrease and the chance of developing a fibroid increases, if you have a fibroid, that does not automatically mean that getting pregnant spontaneously is impossible.

2. Fred Zelinger:

   There has been a flurry of research in the last five years that says that rewards for grades actually reduce motivation, i don’t believe in the carrot-and-stick mentality. If you do celebrate the grades, a spontaneous activity that offers quality time together is the best, rather than a gift or money.

3. Cristian Ritondo:

   We wanted to thank you in person for that gesture of spontaneous love that managed to calm the baby’s cry. That’s the type of police we’re proud of, the police we want.

4. Henry Miller:

   All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without the benefit of experience.

5. Andrew Schneider:

   As a scientist, I am not sure anymore that life can be reduced to a class struggle, to dialectical materialism, or any set of formulas. Life is spontaneous and it is unpredictable, it is magical. I think that we have struggled so hard with the tangible that we have forgotten the intangible.