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

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.0 / 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 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

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

   Antonyms:
   compulsory, coercive, necessitated, involuntary

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 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

1. • Physiology

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 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 WordsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. voluntaryadjective

   Synonyms:
   free, volitional, unforced, spontaneous

   Antonyms:
   involuntary

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

1. List of paraphrases for "voluntary":

   volunteer, volunteers, voluntarily, optional, volunteering, volontaires, freiwilligen, volontari, volunteerism, wilful, volontaire, deliberate, volunteered, voluntariness, freewill, spontaneous, intentional, boneheads

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How to use voluntary in a sentence?

1. Miguel Nicolelis:

   What we didn't expect and what we observed is that some of these patients regained voluntary control of muscles in the legs below the level of the lesion and regained sensitivity below the level of the spinal cord injury.

2. Sarah Porter:

   This new provision, this money will fund voluntary conservation.

3. Jason Jacobs:

   The safety of infants and children is Beech-Nut's top priority. We are issuing this voluntary recall, because we learned through routine sampling by the State of Alaska that a limited quantity of Beech-Nut Single Grain Rice Cereal products had levels of naturally-occurring inorganic arsenic above the FDA guidance level, even though the rice flour used to produce these products tested below the FDA guidance level for inorganic arsenic.

4. Andrew Lincoln:

   The use of protective eyewear is voluntary in practices and non-NFHS-sanctioned competitions, as well as at the collegiate and international levels of play.

5. Eric Hargan:

   These children are not 'lost'; their sponsors—who are usually parents or family members and in all cases have been vetted for criminality and ability to provide for them—simply did not respond or could not be reached when this voluntary call was made.