The company appealed for people to take voluntary resignation.
Source: tatoeba (22371)
Voluntary
/ˈvɒl.ən.tɹi/
Synonyms for "voluntary" (158 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (32)
advisedaimedaimed atalternativearbitraryautonomousavant-proposbreakthroughcalculatedchosenconativeconcert overtureconsciousconsideredcontemplatedcurtain raiserdeliberatedeliberateddescantdesigned
Show 6 more words
Noun(1 words)
civil society
Adjective(4 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (47)
Adjective(16 words)
elective courseelective subjectelective subjectsextracurricular clubfacultativemutual aid networknoncoercivenoncurricularnonessentialnongovernmental programnonregulatorynonregulatory approachoptionaloptional policyoptional readingoptional service
Noun(6 words)
elective curriculumfree choice itemmilitary volunteernongovernmental groupnongovernmental organizationonline platform nonregulation
Adjective(2 words)
Related words (79)
Adjective(8 words)
Noun(12 words)
optional subjectsregulatory policysecretly optionalself chosen actvolunteervolunteer hoursvolunteer organization programvolunteer participationvolunteer projectvolunteer termvolunteer workvolunteering
overtureplannedpostulatepreambleprefaceprefixprefixturepreliminarypreludepremeditatedpremisepresuppositionproemprofferedprojectedprolegomenaprolegomenonprolepsisprologueproposed
Show 36 more words
protasispurposedpurposefulpurposiveself-actingself-activeself-determinedself-determiningspontaneousstudiedteleologicalunaskedunbesoughtunbiddenuncalled foruncalled-foruncoerceduncompelledunconstrainedunforceduninfluenceduninvitedunpressuredunpromptedunrequestedunrequiredunsolicitedunsoughtvampversevolitionalvolunteervorspielwillfulwillingwitting
Adjective(2 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: advised, aimed, aimed at, alternative, arbitrary.
- Sentence evidence is available for voluntary, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wiktionary, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "voluntary".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "voluntary"
Keep "voluntary" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "voluntary" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "voluntary", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "voluntary" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
5 entriescommunity servicevoluntary actionvoluntary donationvoluntary servicevolunteer work
Collocations
5 entriesvoluntary actionvoluntary basisvoluntary programvoluntary servicevoluntary work
Inflections
2 entriesmore voluntarymost voluntary
Derivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
11 entriesTranslations
8 translations across 5 languages.
Albanian
1 entries- vullnetar adj (of or relating to voluntaryism)
Finnish
3 entries- tahdollinen adj (endowed with the power of will)
- vapaa- adj (of or relating to voluntaryism)
- vapaaehtois- adj (of or relating to voluntaryism)
Italian
1 entries- volenteroso adj (of or relating to voluntaryism)
Polish
2 entries- woluntarystyczny adj (of or relating to voluntaryism)
- świadomy adj (endowed with the power of will)
Portuguese
1 entries- voluntário adj (of or relating to voluntaryism)
Sample sentences
17 total sentences available.
That organization depends on voluntary contributions.
Source: tatoeba (45639)
This organization relies entirely on voluntary donations.
Source: tatoeba (58042)
He made a voluntary contribution to the school.
Source: tatoeba (290642)
Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "voluntary"?
Closest matches include advised, aimed, aimed at, alternative, arbitrary.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "voluntary"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.