involuntary
Beyond conscious control
Involuntary describes actions or responses that happen without conscious choice or intention.
An involuntary muscle twitch or gasp occurs automatically, beyond one's control.
The term also applies to situations imposed on someone against their will: involuntary manslaughter involves unintentional killing, and involuntary servitude is forced labor.
Involuntary can characterize both bodily reflexes and legal or social circumstances where consent is absent.
Rhythmic cardiac contraction
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- blinkRapid lid movement
- swallowSend down the throat
- digestionBodily food breakdown
circulation · sneeze · cough · shiver · sweating · yawn · tremor · salivation
Occurring by chance
- inadvertentDone without intention
- unwittingNot aware or conscious
- unintendedNot done on purpose
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
unplanned · unwilled · uncontrolled · automatic · unbidden · unprompted · unsolicited · unmeant
Existing since birth
- primalFirst in origin
- gutDigestive tract, or instinct
- visceralArising from deep instinct
- hardwiredPermanently connected by wires
inborn · subconscious · intuitive · natural · unlearned · inherent · reflexive · automatic
Required by rule
- obligatoryRequired by rule
- enforcedMade to be followed
- imposedForced onto others
- coercedPressured into compliance
conscripted · requisitioned · commandeered · drafted · pressed · shanghaied · compelled · forced
Pulmonary gas exchange
- heartbeatRhythmic cardiac contraction
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- circulationMovement through a system
- blinkingEyelid opening and closing
sweating · shivering · peristalsis · thermoregulation · metabolism · immune response · blood pressure · heart rate
Instinctive and unconsidered
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- pupillaryOf the eye's opening
- rootingActively cheering someone on
- suckingDrawing by mouth
grasp · Babinski · vestibular · corneal · acoustic · plantar · righting · swallowing
heartbeat
Rhythmic cardiac contraction
digestion · circulation · sneeze · cough · shiver · sweating · yawn · tremor · salivation · gag
accidental
Occurring by chance
- inadvertentDone without intention
- unwittingNot aware or conscious
- unintendedNot done on purpose
unconscious · unplanned · unwilled · uncontrolled · automatic · unbidden · unprompted · unsolicited · unmeant · thoughtless
innate
Existing since birth
hardwired · inborn · subconscious · intuitive · natural · unlearned · inherent · reflexive · automatic · unthinking
mandatory
Required by rule
- obligatoryRequired by rule
- enforcedMade to be followed
- imposedForced onto others
coerced · conscripted · requisitioned · commandeered · drafted · pressed · shanghaied · compelled · forced · required
breathing
Pulmonary gas exchange
- heartbeatRhythmic cardiac contraction
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- circulationMovement through a system
blinking · sweating · shivering · peristalsis · thermoregulation · metabolism · immune response · blood pressure · heart rate · salivation
knee-jerk
Instinctive and unconsidered
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- pupillaryOf the eye's opening
- rootingActively cheering someone on
sucking · grasp · Babinski · vestibular · corneal · acoustic · plantar · righting · swallowing · coughing
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- flight overbookingbumped, voucher, oversold, denied boarding, compensation
- seizuresseizure, epileptic, convulsion, fit, attack
- muscle conditionstoned, flexed, relaxed, tense, tight
- motionmotion, movement, velocity, speed, momentum
- accidentsaccident, car accident, bike accident, mishap, traffic accident
involuntaryvoluntary
Done by choice
deliberate · intentional · willful · wilful · conscious
involuntaryvoluntary
Done by choice
willing · unforced · uncoerced · freewill · self-imposed
involuntaryvoluntary
Done by choice
optional · elective · discretionary · noncompulsory · unneeded
- involuntary response
- involuntary manslaughterUnintentional unlawful killing
- involuntary actionsResponses beyond conscious control
- involuntary servitudeCoerced labor under duress
- involuntary treatmentMedical care given despite refusal
- involuntary movementsMotions occurring without intent