as in mandatory
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law
compulsory retirement at age 70
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Recent Examples of compulsory
Maybe the typical wedding remains an exercise in female subjugation and compulsory heterosexuality, but straight women aren’t the only characters suffering at the altar.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 27 May 2026
The dominance of the AI theme over stock-market performance, corporate profitability, economic growth and investor attention has grown so extreme that some very large structural questions now seem urgent and compulsory.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 19 May 2026
Until recently both were compulsory and couldn’t be removed.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Alito asked whether that child, born to an Iranian citizen, and therefore also an Iranian citizen, was still subject to Iran’s law requiring compulsory military service.
—Michael Szalma, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsory
Judy Berman, Time, 27 May 2026
The dominance of the AI theme over stock-market performance, corporate profitability, economic growth and investor attention has grown so extreme that some very large structural questions now seem urgent and compulsory.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 19 May 2026
Until recently both were compulsory and couldn’t be removed.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Alito asked whether that child, born to an Iranian citizen, and therefore also an Iranian citizen, was still subject to Iran’s law requiring compulsory military service.
—Michael Szalma, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsory
Adjective
-
Every match, in every stadium, will pause twice—midway through each half—for a mandatory three-minute hydration break, regardless of weather or temperature.—
Dilan Gomih,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
The Chiefs finished mandatory minicamp on Thursday with Josh Simmons at left tackle, and Jaylon Moore, Esa Pole and Kahlil Benson getting first-team snaps at right tackle.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Judge Gregory Carro had scheduled the hearing for Tuesday but adjourned it about a half-hour after it was supposed to start when Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann told him that prosecutors had failed to send required paperwork to the jail.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Fortune,
16 June 2026
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The buyer’s contribution may come from household savings or gift funds, but funds from other down payment assistance grants or credits do not count toward the required contribution.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Republican primary remains highly competitive, with incumbent Senator John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Representative Wesley Hunt all in contention, resulting in one of the costliest Senate races projected for 2026.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
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Shkreli was a Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th Congressional District in 2016, losing to incumbent Republican Mike Bishop.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Under federal law, if a doctor says a treatment is medically necessary but an insurer still denies it, requesting an external review sends the case to an independent panel, which assigns it to a doctor to review the claim and issue a binding decision.—
Vicky Nguyen,
NBC news,
11 Dec. 2025
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For those in support, mid-decade redistricting was seen as necessary to combat moves by Democratic states to gerrymander more left-leaning districts.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compulsory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsory. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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