1
as in mandatory
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law
in this state, school attendance is obligatory until the age of 16
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2
as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
the obligatory cliff-hanger endings for season finales of TV shows
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Recent Examples of obligatory
There’s an obligatory sob story about Stefani and her mother (Rya Kihlstedt), who abandoned her and her little brother (Teo Briones) when Stefani was 10, but the emotional stakes are held well enough by the cast’s charisma.
—
Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 15 May 2025
And on the flip side, the Andor finale can also proceed in a minor key: quiet, suffused with frustrations and sadness alongside the obligatory hope, as Cassian, Melshi, and Kleya return to a dark and rainy Yavin, where they’re greeted by the none-too-pleased Rebel leaders.
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 14 May 2025
The key insight from my work with athletes is that preparation must become appealing rather than obligatory.
—Roy Ward, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Plus, the solo work JIN started on November’s Happy EP reverberates on his new 7-track set, Echo, which comes nearly a year after the K-pop idol became the first of his BTS bandmates to be discharged from the South Korean military after an 18-month obligatory service period.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 15 May 2025
And on the flip side, the Andor finale can also proceed in a minor key: quiet, suffused with frustrations and sadness alongside the obligatory hope, as Cassian, Melshi, and Kleya return to a dark and rainy Yavin, where they’re greeted by the none-too-pleased Rebel leaders.
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 14 May 2025
The key insight from my work with athletes is that preparation must become appealing rather than obligatory.
—Roy Ward, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Plus, the solo work JIN started on November’s Happy EP reverberates on his new 7-track set, Echo, which comes nearly a year after the K-pop idol became the first of his BTS bandmates to be discharged from the South Korean military after an 18-month obligatory service period.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
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The Chiefs open their three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday before a monthlong break.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2025
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But unlike that trio, the two-time All-Pro did not consider missing Gang Green’s mandatory minicamp.—
Antwan Staley,
Hartford Courant,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has issued compulsory evacuation orders for an area around the blaze, with lower evacuation warnings in force for a wider region.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
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As China ramps up military and other pressure, Taiwan has also extended compulsory military service to one year from four months, doubled mandatory annual refresher training for reservists to two weeks, and pledged to increase its defense budget to more than 3% of its gross domestic product.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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Their negative stereotyped reputation seems to follow them like ageism follows older employees or sexism follows female employees.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Enacted after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the SEVP rules and certification process were intended to encourage schools to report when students dropped out or no longer maintained a required courseload and to remove fraudulent or illegitimate schools.—
Stuart Anderson,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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This comes to a head when he is faced with the F.A.A.’s required medical questionnaire.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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The Panthers survived an Aleksander Barkov delay of game penalty and McDavid slaloming through tired penalty killers only to be turned away by Bobrovsky’s stomach snow angel.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
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My therapist buffs and moisturizes my tired skin with nutrient-rich seaweed body polish and a firming mask before laying shiver-inducing strands of detoxifying fresh seaweed across my back.—
Katie Nanton,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The Trump era has a tendency to eschew surprise, but this kind of language from a governor aimed at an incumbent president feels unprecedented.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 June 2025
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Bresnahan, who flipped a blue seat in November by beating incumbent Rep. Matt Cartwright, knows his career in Congress depends on delivering for his northeastern Pennsylvania district that includes Scranton, former President Joe Biden’s hometown.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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New customers in eligible states can complete these steps to make a larger bet than usual on horse racing: Create an account through the links on this page to activate the best FanDuel promo code offer for the Belmont Stakes.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
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His usual pulpit spot was changed this Sunday morning at Mount Gilead Baptist Church.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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But policy continuity is key to attracting the foreign investment necessary to realize these goals.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
13 June 2025
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In its June 3 decision, the administrative panel deciding the case found that the commission failed to prove any of the three elements necessary to grant its request that Pope’s Web domain be transferred to the county.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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