The Opposite(Antonym) of “voluntary”
The antonyms of voluntary are compulsory, mandatory, and forced. These words describe actions that are required or demanded, rather than chosen freely.
Explore all Antonyms of “voluntary”
Definitions and Examples of compulsory, mandatory, forced
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Required by law or a rule; mandatory.
Example
Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory while driving.
Required by authority or a rule; obligatory.
Example
All employees must attend the mandatory training session.
Done against one's will; compelled by force or coercion.
Example
The workers went on strike because they felt their overtime was forced.
Key Differences: compulsory vs mandatory vs forced
- 1Compulsory and mandatory are similar in meaning, but compulsory is more often used to describe something that is required by law, while mandatory is used more broadly to describe something that is required by an authority or a rule.
- 2Forced implies that the action is done against one's will, while compulsory and mandatory do not necessarily imply this.
Effective Usage of compulsory, mandatory, forced
- 1Legal Context: Use compulsory to describe actions that are required by law.
- 2Formal Writing: Use mandatory to describe actions that are required by an authority or a rule in formal writing.
- 3Negative Connotation: Use forced to describe actions that are done against one's will or under coercion.
Remember this!
The antonyms of voluntary are compulsory, mandatory, and forced. Compulsory and mandatory are similar in meaning, but compulsory is more often used to describe something that is required by law. Forced implies that the action is done against one's will, while compulsory and mandatory do not necessarily imply this. Use these words in legal contexts, formal writing, or to convey a negative connotation.
