Instinctual and Volitional

Opposite meaning words

Instinctual adjective - Done instantly and without conscious thought or decision.

Usage example: the birds' instinctual response is to fly away when startled

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Volitional is an antonym for instinctual.

Volitional adjective - Done, made, or given with one's own free will.

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Instinctual is an antonym for volitional.

Nearby Word: volition

Cite this Source

Volitional and Instinctual. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/instinctual/volitional

Instinctual & Volitional. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/instinctual/volitional>.

Volitional or Instinctual. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/instinctual/volitional.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "instinctual" and "volitional" have occurred on timeline