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
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Recent Examples of mandatory
The materials will support a now-mandatory personal finance class, which includes topics ranging from household budgeting to investment and loan planning.
—
P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
Jakhi Lodgson-McCray, 22, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to a federal arson charge Wednesday, admitting to an offense that carries a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Voting is mandatory for Peruvians from the ages of 18 to 70.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Attorneys for the state maintained that that text, as written, means mandatory school curriculum.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mandatory
P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
Jakhi Lodgson-McCray, 22, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty to a federal arson charge Wednesday, admitting to an offense that carries a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Voting is mandatory for Peruvians from the ages of 18 to 70.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Attorneys for the state maintained that that text, as written, means mandatory school curriculum.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mandatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mandatory
Adjective
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But the trial judge, not the jury, will rule on any compulsory changes for Meta at the trial’s second stage in May.—
Peter Weber,
TheWeek,
25 Mar. 2026
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Fittingly, the summit’s resemblance to summer camp fostered a mood of compulsory cheer.—
Gaby Del Valle,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The discussion stems from a 2023 law, 88(R) HB 1605, which requires the Texas Education Agency to recommend at least one required reading per grade level.—
Lacey Beasley,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Musk and Altman, along with Brockman, who joined from Stripe, were convinced that there were only a few computer scientists alive capable of making the required breakthroughs.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Historically, high gas prices have hurt the incumbent party.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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As the incumbent Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, is wrongly skipping the program, her party has killed it just as it was getting started.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Tilling is sometimes necessary, such as when incorporating compost or manure, but limiting the frequency and intensity can help maintain soil structure.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
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And despite a battery of necessary offseason changes, everything felt the same.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mandatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mandatory. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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