involuntary
/in'vɔləntəri/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not done by choice or conscious decision: Refers to actions, movements, or reactions that occur automatically, without a person's deliberate intent or control.
- Not subject to the control of the will: Describes processes, especially biological functions, that are regulated automatically by the body's nervous system and are not under conscious direction.
Usage
- Used to describe physical reflexes, biological functions, or reactions that happen automatically.
- Can describe actions or situations imposed on someone without their consent.
- Often contrasts with "voluntary," which describes actions done by choice.
Examples
- Describing a physical reaction:
- She gave an involuntary shudder when she heard the loud noise.
- Blinking is an involuntary response to protect the eyes.
- Describing a lack of consent or control:
- The confession was ruled inadmissible as it was deemed involuntary.
- He found himself in a state of involuntary servitude.
Advanced Usage
- Involuntary manslaughter: A legal term for unintentionally causing someone's death through recklessness or criminal negligence, but without malice.
- The driver was charged with involuntary manslaughter after the fatal accident.
- Involuntary muscle: (Biology) Muscle tissue, such as cardiac or smooth muscle, that contracts without conscious control.
- The heart is made of involuntary muscle.
Variants and Related Words
- Involuntarily (adverb): In a way that is not done by choice.
- He sighed involuntarily.
- Involuntariness (noun): The state or quality of being involuntary. (Less common)
Synonyms
- Automatic: Done spontaneously without conscious thought.
- Reflexive: Done as an automatic response to a stimulus.
- Unintentional: Not done on purpose.
- Compulsory: Required by rule or law, not optional. (Note: This relates more to obligation than biological control.)
Antonyms
- Voluntary: Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.
- Intentional: Done on purpose; deliberate.
- Conscious: Aware of and responding to one's surroundings; done with awareness.
Adjective
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controlled by the autonomic nervous system; without conscious control
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involuntary muscles
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gave an involuntary start
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not subject to the control of the will
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involuntary manslaughter
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involuntary servitude
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an involuntary shudder
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It (becoming a hero) was involuntary. They sank my boat- John F.Kennedy
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