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. The Russian Foreign Ministry:

   Introducing new unilateral sanctions against the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sebastopol by the USA and European Union is a direct evidence that the West has acknowledged that the decision by the Crimeans to rejoin Russia was unanimous and voluntary, that's why they chose the 'punishment' to be collective.

2. Michael Lynn:

   This is a defrauding of the consumer, it's a voluntary payment from the consumer. So it's important that they not be cheated or duped into giving money to a company they wouldn't otherwise do it. I would be willing to tip the delivery person, I'm not willing to tip DoorDash.

3. Andreas Mundt:

   If Facebook has a dominant market position, then the consent that the user gives for his data to be used is no longer voluntary, that's because he has no alternative - he has to use Facebook if he wants to use a social network.

4. Samuel Adams:

   All Men have a Right to remain in a State of Nature as long as they please: And in case of intolerable Oppression, civil or religious, to leave the Society they belong to and enter into another. When Men enter into Society, it is by voluntary Consent, and they have a Right to demand and insist upon the performance of such Conditions and previous Limitations as form an equitable original Compact.

5. Ted Cooke:

   The approach the United States has been taking has been taking is trying to facilitate voluntary offers, cajole the states to do what the states ultimately need to do, rather than getting out the stick.

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