involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary (ˌ)in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē 
-ˌte-rē
1
: done contrary to or without choice
2
: compulsory
3
: not subject to control of the will : reflex
involuntarily
(ˌ)in-ˌvä-lən-ˈter-ə-lē
adverb -ˈte-rə-
involuntariness
(ˌ)in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē-nəs
noun -ˌte-rē-
Synonyms
- coerced
- forced
- unintended
- unintentional
- unwilling
- will-less
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Breathing and circulation are involuntary processes. When the door burst open, she let out an involuntary shriek. The lawyer argued that the client's confession was involuntary.
Recent Examples on the Web Spears refused to participate in the film, which chronicled her breakdown, involuntary hospitalization and subsequent conservatorship. 
Kristin J. Lieb, The Conversation, 17 June 2021 Even after the city clarified the mistake, people fumed over social media about the involuntary wake-up call. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2022 Rights groups have likened it to an island jail and said some relocations were involuntary. Reuters, CNN, 24 Nov. 2021 White-collar, full-time jobs were down by 71,000 over the month, while voluntary and involuntary part-time workers increased by 384,000. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 It’s in the middle of this list with a relatively low number of voluntary and involuntary bumping. cleveland, 5 June 2022 Herbert’s sense of revolt is innocent, his whirlwind of chaos is involuntary, his need for love is overwhelming. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 July 2022 Between 2014 and 2020, 29% of departures by presidents of NCAA Division 1 public universities were involuntary, up from 19% between 2007 and 2013, and 10% between 2000 and 2006. Daniel Golden, ProPublica, 4 July 2022 The majority of them were essentially voluntary and then some were involuntary. Mark Maurer, WSJ, 5 Apr. 2022 See More
Kristin J. Lieb, The Conversation, 17 June 2021 Even after the city clarified the mistake, people fumed over social media about the involuntary wake-up call. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2022 Rights groups have likened it to an island jail and said some relocations were involuntary. Reuters, CNN, 24 Nov. 2021 White-collar, full-time jobs were down by 71,000 over the month, while voluntary and involuntary part-time workers increased by 384,000. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 It’s in the middle of this list with a relatively low number of voluntary and involuntary bumping. cleveland, 5 June 2022 Herbert’s sense of revolt is innocent, his whirlwind of chaos is involuntary, his need for love is overwhelming. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 July 2022 Between 2014 and 2020, 29% of departures by presidents of NCAA Division 1 public universities were involuntary, up from 19% between 2007 and 2013, and 10% between 2000 and 2006. Daniel Golden, ProPublica, 4 July 2022 The majority of them were essentially voluntary and then some were involuntary. Mark Maurer, WSJ, 5 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English involuntari, from Late Latin involuntarius, from Latin in- + voluntarius voluntary
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing involuntary
Kids Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē
1
: not done consciously
an involuntary whimper
2
: not done by choice
involuntary labor
Medical Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary (ˈ)in-ˈväl-ən-ˌter-ē
: not subject to control of the will : reflex
involuntary contractions
Legal Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē
: done, made, or initiated contrary to or without one's choice
an involuntary confession
an involuntary lien
an involuntary plaintiff joined in the action
involuntary
adjective
1
as in spontaneous
not made or done willingly or by choice my long stays on the sidelines during our football games were strictly involuntary Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- spontaneous
- accidental
- coerced
- unintentional
- unwilling
- automatic
- forced
- unintended
- will-less
- inadvertent
- instinctive
- unpremeditated
- impulsive
- unplanned
- unconscious
- unprompted
- unwitting
- unknowing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- voluntary
- deliberate
- intentional
- wilful
- willful
- willing
- conscious
- uncoerced
- unforced
- purposeful
- premeditated
- knowing
- volitional
- planned
- considered
- freewill
- advised
- premeditative
- prepense
- self-inflicted
- self-imposed
2
as in automatic
done instantly and without conscious thought or decision breathing is involuntary Synonyms & Similar Words
- automatic
- spontaneous
- reflex
- mechanical
- robotic
- sudden
- instinctive
- mechanic
- instinctual
- unwilling
- abrupt
- natural
- simple
- unconscious
- inadvertent
- knee-jerk
- quick
- unintentional
- impulsive
- unforced
- unreasoned
- conditioned
- visceral
- casual
- impromptu
- subliminal
- blind
- unintended
- unwitting
- reactive
- random
- unplanned
- unpremeditated
- unrehearsed
- hasty
- improvised
- unprompted
- Pavlovian
- unconsidered
- rash
- haphazard
- extemporaneous
- mindless
- impetuous
- unstudied
- snap
- unprepared
- spur-of-the-moment
- extempore
- offhanded
- ready
- offhand
- chance
- off-the-cuff
- chancy
- ad-lib
- hit-or-miss
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- voluntary
- conscious
- deliberate
- intentional
- volitional
- wilful
- willful
- intended
- prepared
- willed
- calculated
- rehearsed
- careful
- nonmechanical
- designed
- refined
- predetermined
- cultivated
- projected
- thoughtful
- meticulous
- reasoned
- considered
- aforethought
- measured
- advised
- foresighted
- studied
- forethoughtful
3
as in compulsory
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law the abolition of involuntary servitude by civilized society Synonyms & Similar Words
- compulsory
- mandatory
- required
- incumbent
- necessary
- urgent
- obligatory
- forced
- nonelective
- needed
- imperative
- peremptory
- persistent
- coercive
- enforced
- insistent
- requisite
- indispensable
- pressing
- demanded
- essential
- all-important
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- voluntary
- optional
- elective
- discretionary
- unnecessary
- unwanted
- unimportant
- insignificant
- chosen
- unneeded
- inconsequential
- dispensable
- nonessential
- current tap
- current transformer
- current yield
- current-bedded
- current-limiting reactor
- currente calamo
- currenter
- currentest
- currentlier
- currentliest
- currently
- currently insured
- currentness
- currentnesses
- currents
- currest
- curricle
- curricles
- curricula
- curricula vitae
- curricular
- curriculum
- curriculum vitae
- curriculums
- currie