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
Federal officials say the mandatory FAA slowdown is necessary to maintain safe skies at a time when air traffic controllers are working unpaid during the shutdown.
—
Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Voluntary treatment plans devised under the program are too easy for people to ignore, and CARE Courts have ordered only 14 mandatory treatment plans so far.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Airlines have begun implementing mandatory flight reductions due to the shutdown.
—AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
Technically, the hijab remains mandatory.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mandatory
Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Voluntary treatment plans devised under the program are too easy for people to ignore, and CARE Courts have ordered only 14 mandatory treatment plans so far.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Airlines have begun implementing mandatory flight reductions due to the shutdown.
—AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
Technically, the hijab remains mandatory.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mandatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mandatory
Adjective
-
More recently, the church was sued by a former employee over a policy of compulsory tithing.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
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The core design feature is compulsory arbitration, where everyone agrees that if there is a dispute, it is heard by a process overseen by the commissioner—and unlike litigation, it is conducted in private.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The victim was taken to the hospital with two stab wounds to her back, and cuts on her arm and hand that authorities say required stitches, per prosecutors.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Families and participants are responsible only for transportation to the adventure locations and for obtaining any required hunting or fishing licenses.—
Stephanie Ogilvie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
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
-
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
-
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
“Mandatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mandatory. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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