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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of obligatory
There's a horror story brewing every morning during mid-winter when the obligatory weather app check comes around.
—
Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 25 Jan. 2026
The cast of Sinners went beyond the obligatory press tour posting.
—Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In addition to the obligatory singing, there was abundant conversation.
—Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026
Wake Up Dead Man probably reached a new level of star-wasting — the sheer celebrity wattage is enough to add energy, even in the obligatory chamber room scenes where Benoit Blanc monologues his way through details that might be perilously dry otherwise.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 25 Jan. 2026
The cast of Sinners went beyond the obligatory press tour posting.
—Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In addition to the obligatory singing, there was abundant conversation.
—Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026
Wake Up Dead Man probably reached a new level of star-wasting — the sheer celebrity wattage is enough to add energy, even in the obligatory chamber room scenes where Benoit Blanc monologues his way through details that might be perilously dry otherwise.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
-
Between attorney fees, court filing fees and mandatory credit counseling courses, the upfront and ongoing costs of a Chapter 13 case can cost thousands of dollars.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Sykes, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, a Democrat, ruled in November and again in December that the mandatory detention policy violated an act of Congress.—
Sudhin Thanawala,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Where military service is compulsory, and may only disappoint our best or even worst men, but can be interrupted, thank god, by life’s hairpin turns.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Feb. 2026
-
European and American teachings focused more on compulsory figures, the basic patterns skaters would trace across the ice that give the sport its name.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Nanos must also be tired of talking, though that one is on him.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Aiona has grown tired of spending his retirement telling park-goers to stop feeding the chickens.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The proposal underscores a complicated moment for Jewish literature in Texas schools, where books about the Holocaust and Jewish history have recently been pulled from shelves amid parental complaints but are now poised to become required reading statewide.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
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While advocates and some commissioners urged the county to file a lawsuit to clarify its role and required duties, Demings chose a more careful path.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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All-cash offers, including in Boise and its surrounding suburbs, became commonplace and spurred bidding wars that drove up housing prices, Michael Megis, a longtime broker also with the Homes of Idaho real estate firm, said in an interview.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
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McTier said Disney’s deal with OpenAI is an example of the kind of partnership that should become more commonplace.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This is the latest in my series of stories about incumbent Dolphins.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
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This spring, those incumbent big leaguers — utility player Kody Clemens, pitcher John Curtiss, pitcher Bryce Elder, infielder David Hamilton, pitcher Hoby Milner and pitcher Chase Shugart — and a few others will be looking to earn a spot on an opening-day roster.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Close added that Dugalic’s intense effort was in response to a couple of games during which Dugalic wasn’t playing to her usual standard.—
Felicia Keller,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
On a chilly Austin morning, downtown buzzed with excitement earlier than usual for a Sunday.—
Aaron E Martinez,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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