spontaneous

[spon-tey-nee-uhs] / spɒnˈteɪ ni əs /

ADJECTIVE

impulsive, willing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

casual impromptu instinctive offhand simple unplanned voluntary

WEAK

ad-lib automatic break loose down extemporaneous extempore free free-spirited from the hip impetuous improvised inevitable involuntary irresistible natural off top of head off-the-cuff unartful unavoidable unbidden uncompelled unconscious unconstrained uncontrived uncontrolled unforced unintentional unpremediated unprompted unsophisticated unstudied up front

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deliberate planned

WEAK

intended premeditated

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“She had a spontaneous unexplained brain bleed that led to brain death.”

From Salon • May 7, 2026

I’m batting about .500 in my attempt to revive the spontaneous call.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

That moment came courtesy of a guy wearing a Cubs uniform, but Monday grew up in Santa Monica and delivered his spontaneous commemoration of Flag Day in the year of America’s bicentennial.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

They quickly return to a lower energy state by releasing light at a specific frequency, a process known as spontaneous emission.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

My trust in Estrayen had been more willed than spontaneous; now I believed him completely.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Vocabulary lists containing spontaneous

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