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 cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
the obligatory cliff-hanger endings for season finales of TV shows
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligatory
Like all Muslims, Twelvers are required to give zakat, a key Islamic philanthropic tradition and an obligatory act of giving.
—
Massumeh H. Toosi, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2025
The article also made the obligatory comparisons to Trump.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
The first depth chart is obligatory and doesn’t necessarily mean this is the way the Dolphins will line up in the Sept. 7 regular-season opener at Indianapolis.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
After a summer of obligatory reading lists and extra screen time, getting your kids to crack open a book might seem impossible.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Massumeh H. Toosi, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2025
The article also made the obligatory comparisons to Trump.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
The first depth chart is obligatory and doesn’t necessarily mean this is the way the Dolphins will line up in the Sept. 7 regular-season opener at Indianapolis.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
After a summer of obligatory reading lists and extra screen time, getting your kids to crack open a book might seem impossible.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
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Now that mandatory fee will nearly double on September 30 to $40.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
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The Upper Basin has vocally refused to accept any mandatory cuts in its water use for the sake of the reservoirs.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The audience demographics at these two SoCal shows was certainly interesting… a mixture of aspirational and actual Englishness, united in a tempory new world order marked by seemingly compulsory bucket hats.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
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The plan comes a decade after the government suspended compulsory duty and includes the possibility of reintroducing conscription if recruitment targets are not met, according to Reuters.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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At the time, Latinos were often cast in stereotyped roles with heavy accents and largely denied the opportunity to direct features.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Critically, this approach achieves the required resolution without the enormous deployment complexity of a 20-meter circular primary or the operational overhead of a starshade.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
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Though coverage for Wegovy (semaglutide) is generally better than for Zepbound this year, 88% of people getting Wegovy through their insurer still face hurdles, including prior authorization and required protocols in which cheaper treatments must be tried first prior to gaining access.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Susan has lifted us up for 50 years; and her arms have not grown tired.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
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Discard the tired-looking center and separate clumps from the outer edges by hand or use a sharp knife or pruning saw.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Browns’ kicking woes go back to the summer of 2023, when incumbent Cade York failed just 16 months after being drafted in the fourth round.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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District 4 features a rematch of incumbent Renee Perkins Johnson and challenger Wil Russell.—
Josh Bergeron,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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While the Irish Open was snubbed from this latest National Open status upgrade wave, the golf-mad nation’s key event remains a highlight on the DP World Tour calendar, with venues that as usual stir a bit of wanderlust among golf travelers.—
Mike Dojc,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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In Colorado, the aspens should offer good viewing from September through mid-October, though dry conditions may cause leaves to drop a bit earlier than usual, according to AccuWeather.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The first three have helped shape a new-look defence, which had been identified as a necessary area of improvement since last summer.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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From breezy wide-leg pants to tailored joggers, these fashion finds will keep you comfy and put-together from day to night and throughout your travels—no iron necessary.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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