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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in officeholder
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incumbent
Lars Brandle, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
The incumbent is seeking a third term.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025
Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Turner school board candidates The three incumbent school board members running for re-election are Joy Beery, Jeff Davidson and Steve Russell, who currently serves as board vice president, according to the district website.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incumbent
Adjective
In one corner, Taylor Swift’s incumbent, The Life Of A Showgirl (via Republic/Universal).
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
The incumbent is seeking a third term.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
Cuomo made it to the game’s second half, where he was photographed sitting next to incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
Turner school board candidates The three incumbent school board members running for re-election are Joy Beery, Jeff Davidson and Steve Russell, who currently serves as board vice president, according to the district website.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incumbent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incumbent
Adjective
-
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
Noun
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Their goal was to restore white dominance and undermine Reconstruction governments by targeting Black voters, officeholders, and communities.—
Josiah Bates,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Republicans have recently been more critical of Morales, even drafting legislation in the most recent legislative session to require more transparency from state officeholders in the wake of some of his scandals.—
Hayleigh Colombo,
IndyStar,
6 Oct. 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
-
Congress failed to pass a budget or temporary funding measure before the federal fiscal year ended on October 1, forcing many federal agencies to cease all non-mandatory operations.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Having initially faced 20 years in jail, the additional indictments raised his possible jail term to 45 years, with a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Almost six months into the ban, however, and questions are being asked whether the ongoing restrictions are excessive, and no longer necessary.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
26 Oct. 2025
-
That won’t be the case this season; the Lakers are all-in on Luka heliocentricism, with James’ early absence due to sciatica making that commitment even more necessary.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incumbent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incumbent. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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