MANDATORY Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

mandatory

adjective

ˈman-də-ˌtȯr-ē

Definition of mandatory

as in compulsory

forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law the tests are mandatory for all students wishing to graduate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 mandatory Some workplaces are holding mandatory training sessions in artificial intelligence. — Julia Carpenter, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026 The activists demand spending on schools, climate protection and housing, and are against plans to return to mandatory military service. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2026 Social Security is among the federal programs funded through mandatory spending. — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026 If convicted of this charge, Smith, Gomez, Duran, White, and Laurent face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mandatory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mandatory

Adjective

Headscarves are less conspicuous among women in these fashionable neighborhoods, despite compulsory hijab rules introduced after the revolution established clerical rule.

— CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Those include whether the fast-growing ultra-Orthodox population should remain exempted from compulsory military service in a country where many families have seen their sons and daughters killed in three years of inconclusive wars.

— Cara Anna, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of compulsory

Adjective

Neither Castillo nor Hershey have filed required ethics reports, or reported fundraising, signs their campaigns lack broad support and have not broadly engaged voters.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
However, recovering their constituent materials at the required purity for reuse is technically challenging.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of required

Adjective

Assemblymember Josh Hoover, R-Folsom — who defeated an incumbent Democrat in 2022 to win his seat — was one of the Republicans losing.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Mayor-elect Nithya Raman won’t represent a radical ideological break from her opponent, one-term incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of incumbent

Adjective

The Board will take the time necessary to thoughtfully evaluate the circumstances before taking any appropriate next steps regarding district leadership as the facts become clearer.

— Jack Lowenstein, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Both Lawler and Conley called on voters to be patient and to stay in line as long as necessary to vote.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of necessary

Browse Nearby Words

mandating

mandatory

mandible

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mandatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mandatory. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of mandatory

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quondam

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes