involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˌ)in-ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē 
-ˌte-rē
Synonyms
Examples of involuntary in a Sentence
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
Spasmodic dysphonia is a chronic neurological voice disorder that causes involuntary spasms in the muscles of the larynx (voice box), leading to interruptions in speech.
—
Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
And involuntary collections actions, including Treasury Offset and administrative wage garnishment, are expected to resume later in 2025.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Advertisement California Nevada just banned ‘slavery and involuntary servitude’ in prisons.
—Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
And taken alongside the failure of Prop. 6, which would have ended involuntary servitude in prisons, Prop. 36 was taken as a signal that Californians attitudes toward crime are changing.
—Annika Merrilees, Sacramento Bee, 16 Jan. 2025
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Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
And involuntary collections actions, including Treasury Offset and administrative wage garnishment, are expected to resume later in 2025.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Advertisement California Nevada just banned ‘slavery and involuntary servitude’ in prisons.
—Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
And taken alongside the failure of Prop. 6, which would have ended involuntary servitude in prisons, Prop. 36 was taken as a signal that Californians attitudes toward crime are changing.
—Annika Merrilees, Sacramento Bee, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for involuntary
Dictionary Entries Near involuntary
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involuntary. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
involuntary
adjective
in·vol·un·tary
(ˈ)in-ˈväl-ən-ˌter-ē
1
: not made or done willingly or from choice : unwilling
2
: being enforced or required : mandatory
3
: not normally under the control of the will
an involuntary response to a stimulus
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
involuntarily
adverb
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