How to Use involuntary in a Sentence

involuntary

adjective
  • When the door burst open, she let out an involuntary shriek.
  • The lawyer argued that the client's confession was involuntary.
  • Breathing and circulation are involuntary processes.
  • Then there are the involuntary bumps, when airlines strip you of your seat.
    — Aditi Shrikant, Vox, 14 Nov. 2018
  • And that could mean more of them — involuntary ones — in the future.
    — Deanna Pai, Allure, 1 Mar. 2023
  • Frontier had the worst record on involuntary bumping last year, the study says.
    — Sean P. Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, 8 May 2023
  • At least judging by their involuntary shrieks.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • He would not be paid again, but his involuntary work would help pave the way toward a new life in Europe.
    — Kenneth R. Rosen, The New Republic, 26 Apr. 2022
  • One in eight of all renters in the city experienced some kind of involuntary move every two years.
    — Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 July 2021
  • If the position of girl online is involuntary, does that make all of us its victims?
    — Alex Quicho, WIRED, 11 Sep. 2023
  • Rights groups have likened it to an island jail and said some relocations were involuntary.
    — Reuters, CNN, 24 Nov. 2021
  • Torpor is involuntary and largely triggered by lack of food.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The bill is largely focused on involuntary mental health care.
    — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Most people have had hiccups, an involuntary spasm of the muscles of breathing.
    — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 1 Apr. 2022
  • As a boy, Ben developed an involuntary tic around 4 or 5 years old.
    — Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Nov. 2021
  • This is a part of the nervous system that controls heart rate and other involuntary body functions.
    — Craig O. Weber, Verywell Health, 4 Dec. 2025
  • All of the great moments of recovery in Proust are involuntary.
    — Christian Wiman, WSJ, 21 June 2019
  • The number of involuntary part-time workers has increased in recent months.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN, 4 July 2024
  • The 26-year-old took a mostly involuntary break of 10 months from racing last year.
    — Jen Murphy, WSJ, 20 Mar. 2021
  • The department did not set a new date for involuntary collections.
    — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
  • At least judging by their involuntary screeches.
    — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • One component of Vasquez’s plan will be involuntary detox in treatment dorms built on county jail grounds.
    — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Her daughter had involuntary movement, so her limbs were always moving.
    — Melonee Hurt, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Patients stay there for a few days to a week at a time, often until their involuntary commitment expires.
    — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 29 June 2026
  • The sisters said hospital staffers told them the movements were involuntary.
    — Cara Anthony, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The sisters said hospital staffers told them the movements were involuntary.
    — Cara Anthony, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The sisters said hospital staffers told them the movements were involuntary.
    — Kff Health News, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The mentally ill need a place to go and sometimes involuntary commitment is the only way.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025
  • Most startling of the signs of life after death are involuntary movements mediated by the spinal cord.
    — Jeremy N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 25 Nov. 2022
  • Brooks and Roberson are also charged with a second count of involuntary servitude.
    — Phil Helsel, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2022

Some of 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.

Last Updated: