Antonyms 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

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

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

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. spontaneous, self-generatedadjective

   happening or arising without apparent external cause

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

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

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

2. ad-lib, spontaneous, unwrittenadjective

   said or done without having been planned or written in advance

   "he made a few ad-lib remarks"

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

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

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

1. spontaneousadjective

   Synonyms:
   instinctive, voluntary, impulsive, unforced

Editors ContributionRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. rigid

   inflexible, predictably unchanging

   john has a rigid personality, but steve is much more spontaneous and fun.

   Submitted by JP03 on October 27, 2014  

2. ritualistic

   not prescribed procedure

   Submitted by anonymous on October 12, 2020  

3. tactical

   Submitted by anonymous on August 16, 2020  

How to use spontaneous in a sentence?

1. Henry Miller:

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

2. Shawn Hohnstreiter:

   We have received multiple complaints from people that thought these spontaneous volunteers were our legitimate organization.

3. Jeb Bush:

   A lot of it is just connecting on a human level with people, not being behind some protective shield, campaigning in a way where you're outside your own comfort zone. Taking questions, not having it all scripted out, not having it all part of some narrative that producers made. Be more spontaneous.

4. Reggie Leach:

   Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.

5. Nina Daniele:

   The Femlin’s this spontaneous, spunky, smart, mischievous, tiny little woman who sticks The Femlin in between places, the Femlin’s the life of the party … The Femlin has all of these wonderful characteristics, but The Femlin’s also imperious to society’s beliefs and restrictions. They do n’t apply to The Femlin … Society’s restrictions do n’t apply to any of us at all. We need to show society that women as a whole, we are imperious to those restrictions. That’s what The Femlin stands for. Even though I ’m on the cover, it’s me, but I ’m The Femlin. I am portraying what The Femlin stands for … It’s a homage to The Femlin and how Hugh Hefner in 2017 viewed women in society.

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