What is another word for voluntary?

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

This thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word voluntary.

Wiktionary3.0 / 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 Antonyms0.0 / 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 Antonyms0.0 / 0 votes

  1. voluntary

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

    Antonyms:
    compulsory, coercive, necessitated, involuntary

Princeton's WordNet0.0 / 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

Dictionary of English Synonymes0.0 / 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 Words5.0 / 1 vote

  1. voluntaryadjective

    Synonyms:
    free, volitional, unforced, spontaneous

    Antonyms:
    involuntary

How to pronounce voluntary?

How to say voluntary in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

rankingword
#42free
#1984optional
#2785automatic
#3396volunteer
#3912willing
#4186volunteers
#5512voluntary
#12696volunteering
#13632spontaneous
#15310voluntarily
#15634deliberate
#16488discretionary
#16556intentional
#21154volunteered
#22716involuntary
#29981willful
#39483volunteerism
#40416impulsive
#47195instinctive
#50683unconstrained
#61099wilful
#85817freewill
#114255volitional
#140105unbidden
#146688voluntariness
#210406boneheads
#248468volontaires
#303295volontaire

How to use voluntary in a sentence?

  1. Adam Schiff:

    In light of your notice of intent to the acting director of national intelligence, The Intelligence Committee requests a voluntary interview with your client on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, in the afternoon, following the public testimony of acting Director Maguire before The Intelligence Committee. The Intelligence Committee is prepared to work with you to identify a secure location and format that preserves your clients privacy and ensure protection from reprisalor threat of reprisal.

  2. New York Blood Center:

    NYBC's support of the chimpanzees was entirely voluntary, offered on a philanthropic basis to permit discussions regarding Liberia's need to fulfill their responsibilities until the Government of Liberia could take over, the Government of Liberia and animal rights organizations knew all along that our support was voluntary and could not continue.

  3. Laura Clancy:

    Of course, voluntary income tax [ is ] not a fixed rate, and they don't have to declare how much income they're making their tax on. So actually it's just like plucking a figure out of thin air.

  4. Scott Wolfson:

    In the latter part of 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which turned voluntary safety standards for children's products into federal mandatory standards, to look at the effectiveness of these standards, it would take time.

  5. Anthony Fauci:

    I believe that's going to turn this around because I don't think people are going to want to not go to work or not go to college... They're going to do it, you'd like to have them do it on a totally voluntary basis, but if that doesn't work, you've got to go to the alternatives.


Translations for voluntary

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"voluntary." Synonyms.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.synonyms.com/synonym/voluntary>.

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    Which of these is a synonym of sangfroid?
    A jaded
    B imperturbability
    C remonstrate
    D scurrilous

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