1
as in mandatory
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law
in this state, school attendance is obligatory until the age of 16
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull
the obligatory cliff-hanger endings for season finales of TV shows
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligatory
This was largely because the White House has yet to provide any of the government guarantees — including commitments on visas, tax exemptions, safety and security — that are deemed obligatory for a World Cup bid to progress.
—
Adam Crafton, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Others pop in for sundowners on the 56th-floor observation deck or snap an obligatory selfie from across the bay.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Having reached the Five-Timers Club, as addressed in an obligatory monologue sketch featuring Jonah Hill, Tina Fey, Candice Bergen and others, Black was a returning hero.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Here is what to know about Good Friday, and the obligatory fast for Catholics.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Adam Crafton, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Others pop in for sundowners on the 56th-floor observation deck or snap an obligatory selfie from across the bay.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Having reached the Five-Timers Club, as addressed in an obligatory monologue sketch featuring Jonah Hill, Tina Fey, Candice Bergen and others, Black was a returning hero.
—Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Here is what to know about Good Friday, and the obligatory fast for Catholics.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
-
The new ranch comes with a coffee-drinking porch (mandatory), but it is weathered, rustic and needs work.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
In California, babies between 15 days and 6 months can only work for 20 minutes at a time and spend two hours on set per day; also mandatory is a nurse, a guardian and a studio teacher, who ensures the baby’s wellbeing is looked after.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Kelly Enders-Tharp, a three-time surrogate and education and experience specialist at Growing Generations, explains that surrogates are often stereotyped, or that their backgrounds are misrepresented.—
Kris Ann Valdez,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.—
Tom McDonough,
Artforum,
1 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Until recently both were compulsory and couldn’t be removed.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Alito asked whether that child, born to an Iranian citizen, and therefore also an Iranian citizen, was still subject to Iran’s law requiring compulsory military service.—
Michael Szalma,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
The film, which stars Hannah Einbinder as a filmmaker tasked with revamping a tired summer camp horror franchise with its cryptic lead played by Gillian Anderson in tow, is set to make its way to theaters this August.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
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Each day, after teaching classes for a local extension office, taking online courses and caring for everyone, Denise is just tired.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Just a handful of names are thought to be capable of mustering the required support of 81 lawmakers to trigger a leadership contest.—
Isa Soares,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
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Don’t try to handle a squatter yourself by changing locks, hauling out belongings or shutting off utilities — Texas law treats that as a self-help eviction and can backfire if the person turns out to have tenant rights, making court eviction the required route in landlord-tenant cases.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
To most Americans, alcohol is an innocuous part of everyday life, so commonplace as to go unnoticed.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
-
Dry farming of many crops, including melons, was commonplace in Southern California during the early decades of the last century.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
This endorsement may surprise some, given the editorial board’s past comments about incumbent Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, who is also an attorney.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
While incumbent governments often struggle in mid-term elections, pollsters forecast that Labour could lose the most council seats since Conservative former Prime Minister John Major lost more than 2,000 in 1995, when his government was mired in endless corruption scandals.—
Andrew MacAskill,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
The irony is that Ashby was the stand-in for France’s usual wing trimmer, the British sailor Leigh McMillan, who is still recovering from an injury at the Auckland SailGP event in February.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
But Brunson, as usual, was sublime, wrong-footing the 76ers over and over with his staccato moves and magnetized shots.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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