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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligatory
Best Things to Do Get your obligatory sightseeing out of the way in Athens, and then head to the beach for an invigorating dip in the Aegean Sea.
—
Aileen Weintraub,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
Many married women squish their arms onto a shield alongside their husband’s, although this is not obligatory.
—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
There’s also an in-house, ground floor Pastelaria with tea, coffee, the obligatory pastéis de nata and savory pastries.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
There’s the obligatory photo op at the Great Hall of the People before closed-door talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Aileen Weintraub,
Travel + Leisure,
10 June 2026
Many married women squish their arms onto a shield alongside their husband’s, although this is not obligatory.
—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
There’s also an in-house, ground floor Pastelaria with tea, coffee, the obligatory pastéis de nata and savory pastries.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
There’s the obligatory photo op at the Great Hall of the People before closed-door talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
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Since then, the mussels have spread through California waterways, prompting mandatory boat inspections and decontamination requirements at lakes and reservoirs statewide.
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The requirement was lifted in 1949 but reinstated in the 1950s, and flu vaccines remained mandatory until Hegseth's order.
Adjective
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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.
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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.
Adjective
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Since Israel’s founding, members of the community who devoted themselves to Torah studies have been exempt from the nation’s compulsory military service.
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Simply sitting with the idea that death is compulsory and irreversible is too hard.
Adjective
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Hollywood Plot Lines and Reality These are the tired questions every UFO skeptic asks.
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If your complexion tends to look flat or tired by midday, this powder can help bring back some radiance.
Adjective
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Letters from lawmakers have gone unanswered and required reports unfiled.
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All required licenses, waivers and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.
Adjective
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The Heat also has the ability to purchase an additional second-round pick or sell its second-round selection, which has become commonplace over the years.
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Rather than being exceptions, such landmarks are commonplace in Cambridge.
Adjective
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Headcount growth among incumbent firms offset, to a small degree, the headcount decline caused by list churn.
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Former Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory appeared to win the Democratic primary runoff election for chair of the Board of Commissioners, handily leading incumbent Robb Pitts.
Adjective
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As Strong spoke with state reporters this week on campus, her answers were even more clipped than usual, almost terse.
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Thirteen-year-old MGP rye bottled at 112 proof is a recipe for success, a classic rye style that is aged for longer than usual and bottled at a higher proof, which means less dilution, more flavor, and a deeper palate.
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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