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
Making a crime out of involuntary homelessness was, that court ruled, unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment.
—
Robert M. Hayes, New York Daily News, 19 June 2024
One example of such conduct provided in the report details a transport order of a man with schizophrenia for an involuntary mental health assessment.
—Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2024
Plus, any clause that would require an athlete to play a sport, which could conceivably be part of an NIL deal, could get uncomfortably close to involuntary servitude.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 12 June 2024
Unless that happens, families will continue to experience involuntary displacement from their homes and children will be displaced from their schools, friends and neighborhoods.
—Carol Martin, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for involuntary 
Robert M. Hayes, New York Daily News, 19 June 2024
One example of such conduct provided in the report details a transport order of a man with schizophrenia for an involuntary mental health assessment.
—Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2024
Plus, any clause that would require an athlete to play a sport, which could conceivably be part of an NIL deal, could get uncomfortably close to involuntary servitude.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 12 June 2024
Unless that happens, families will continue to experience involuntary displacement from their homes and children will be displaced from their schools, friends and neighborhoods.
—Carol Martin, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for involuntary
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'involuntary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near involuntary
Cite this Entry
“Involuntary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involuntary. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
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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