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
Under state compulsory-attendance laws, children are required to attend school regularly—typically from ages 6 to 16—and districts are required to track every absence.
—
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The problem arises when implicit or explicit pressures make either covering or uncovering feel compulsory—so the aim is to restore agency, letting employees decide for themselves without penalty.
—Tia Katz, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The campaign faces a tight deadline, but veto referendums have been successful in Missouri as recently as 2017, when labor unions successfully organized to defeat a right-to-work law that would have banned compulsory union fees.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
But other European countries, including Germany in 2020 and France in 2018, have either adopted vaccine mandates or made more shots compulsory in response to outbreaks.
—Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsory
Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The problem arises when implicit or explicit pressures make either covering or uncovering feel compulsory—so the aim is to restore agency, letting employees decide for themselves without penalty.
—Tia Katz, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The campaign faces a tight deadline, but veto referendums have been successful in Missouri as recently as 2017, when labor unions successfully organized to defeat a right-to-work law that would have banned compulsory union fees.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
But other European countries, including Germany in 2020 and France in 2018, have either adopted vaccine mandates or made more shots compulsory in response to outbreaks.
—Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsory
Adjective
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Shouts for it will be met by angry fingers jutted towards the various gaffes played ad nauseam on Sky Sports’ weekly Ref Watch, or the mandatory pause before the emotional unleashing as VAR mulls over whether a goal is a goal or just a hoax.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Many are pulling six-day work weeks with mandatory overtime, and increasing numbers have begun calling out as the financial strain and exhaustion mount.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This summer, Wyoming’s Game and Fish Commission passed regulations that designated some sections fly-only and required anglers to pinch their barbs.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
30 Oct. 2025
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The Chamber argues that the fee was imposed without congressional approval or required rulemaking, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the short run, this would see sellers and incumbent owners capturing much of the benefit while first‑time buyers face higher entry prices.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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The convincing Democratic wins reinforced the core truth that attitudes about the incumbent president are now the driving force in off-year elections.—
Ronald Brownstein,
Mercury News,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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After giving birth to her second child in April, the 32-year-old was determined to continue breastfeeding her son — a choice that was both personally important and financially necessary for her family.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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The Federal Aviation Administration says the decision is necessary to keep travelers safe.—
Rio Yamat,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compulsory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsory. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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