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incumbent 1 of 2

noun

Definition of incumbentnext
as in officeholder

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incumbent

2 of 2

adjective

in-ˈkəm-bənt How to pronounce incumbent (audio)
as in compulsory
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law it is incumbent upon you to attend every staff meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of incumbent
Noun
Roger Marshall Marshall, the Republican incumbent running for reelection, said in a recent interview that people’s concerns about data center energy and water use are reasonable. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026 And Ossoff is the only Democratic incumbent seeking reelection in either one. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Adjective
The Protect Democracy report warns that such partisan tactics reduce faith in American elections generally and insulate incumbent lawmakers from public opinion. — Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 The Tarrant County judge race between incumbent Republican Tim O’Hare and Democratic commissioner Alisa Simmons has been contentious. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incumbent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incumbent
  1. officeholder
  2. compulsory
  3. required
  4. mandatory
  5. necessary
Noun
  • That year, three of Texas’s university systems appointed former Republican officeholders as their chancellors.
    — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Both lawsuits seek damages based on a Missouri law that allows lawsuits against the secretary of state if the officeholder neglects their duties.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of officeholder
Adjective
  • Four years ago, get-out-the-vote campaigns focused on mobilizing Brazil’s youth, particularly among 16- and 17-year-olds for whom voting is not compulsory.
    — Constance Malleret, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Elor Azaria’s conviction in 2017 for manslaughter and his release after serving two-thirds of his 18-month sentence drew enormous attention in Israel, where military service is compulsory for most Jewish men.
    — Cara Anna, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • Because the carbon material smooths itself during deposition, manufacturers can eliminate downstream chemical mechanical planarization or etch-back steps that are normally needed to create the required surface.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
  • That means there are fewer people left to make sure labs and clean rooms pass all the required safety checks during tests that involve extreme temperatures, pressures and electrical discharges.
    — Eric Niiler, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • The marketplace provides a mechanism for allied countries to immediately access cutting-edge capabilities while the mandatory compatibility standards allow hardware to be produced in any participating nation, separate from proprietary software.
    — Dan Driscoll, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The inclusion of women, albeit mandatory, is no small matter, as sailing has long been accused of being a masculine environment, if not outright sexist.
    — Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • Harrow New York may be vulnerable to a similar fate, but perhaps this sort of gamble is a necessary evil to ensure Harrow’s continuity, in one form or another.
    — Ashley Baker, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Delays are frustrating but necessary Because lightning can happen before or after a thunderstorm is overhead, rain is a poor indicator of lightning danger.
    — Chris Vagasky, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of necessary

Browse Nearby Words

incumbency
incumbent
incumbents
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Cite this Entry

“Incumbent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incumbent. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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