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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligatory
Because Anna and Matteo were never actually together, her clear attraction with Michael doesn’t face any meaningful obstacles, aside from some obligatory (and weakly justified) initial sniping between the two leads.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
-
Goldman later cited a Manhattan federal district judge's late May ruling preventing ICE from arresting people attending immigration court during routine, mandatory check-ins.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
Heading into OTAs and mandatory minicamp later this month, here are five position battles to keep an eye on and see how the coaching staff divvies up snap count.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
This is a directed, stereotyped behavior in which the highest-resolution region of the somatosensory surface is brought to bear on the object requiring the most detailed analysis.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
In some cases, praise took on overtly stereotyped forms: words like 'love' were used disproportionately with female students, while 'powerful' appeared only for Black students.—
Rachel del Guidice,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women in Israel.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
Attendance to the march wasn’t compulsory for Kings players.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 June 2026
-
The Ukrainian president also said the majority of Russians had grown tired of missile and drone attacks, inflation and fuel shortages, and were ready for peace.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The storefront was small but required grueling work, often keeping him away from his wife, Lynda, and their four children.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
From Visibility To Observability The required shift is from visibility to observability.—
John Pritchard,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
While statistics suggest that Bass has made headway on homelessness, makeshift encampments and rows of rusting RVs remain commonplace across the city.—
MIchael R. Blood,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
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Or visits from high-profile teams like the Yankees and MVPs like Judge — or Shohei Ohtani, whose Los Angeles Dodgers come to Sacramento at the end of June — will become commonplace, with 81 regular season home games a year on the shore of the Sacramento River.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
His bid for the party’s support challenging incumbent Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat, was uncontested.—
Jay Gabler,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
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The prospect of Burnham, considered more left-leaning than Starmer, replacing the incumbent prime minister has sent jitters through bond markets in recent weeks.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Green Bay has to hope the NFL shows its usual apathy and Jacobs gets off before ending up in Kansas City.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
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Despite throwing his four-seam fastball 1 mph faster than usual, the pitch resulted in a strike 76% of the time.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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