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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligatory
Most of the story happens in the dark, although there is the obligatory daytime travelling shot of the filthy, crumbling streets of Detroit through a car window.
—
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
The goals that belong to you tend to bring energy and curiosity, while the ones inherited from others often feel heavy or obligatory.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
After ‘This Is the One’, the obligatory Premier League tune blares out as the players shake hands with opponents and officials.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The article also made the obligatory comparisons to Trump.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
The goals that belong to you tend to bring energy and curiosity, while the ones inherited from others often feel heavy or obligatory.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
After ‘This Is the One’, the obligatory Premier League tune blares out as the players shake hands with opponents and officials.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The article also made the obligatory comparisons to Trump.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
-
Medicare will not be interrupted by the shutdown because it’s classified as a mandatory government service.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Nearly eight years later, Serhat Gumrukcu, 42, of Los Angeles, is facing a mandatory life sentence in the killing of Gregory Davis, who was abducted from his Vermont home and found shot to death at the base of a nearby snowbank in January 2018, according to prosecutors.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The problem arises when implicit or explicit pressures make either covering or uncovering feel compulsory—so the aim is to restore agency, letting employees decide for themselves without penalty.—
Tia Katz,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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The campaign faces a tight deadline, but veto referendums have been successful in Missouri as recently as 2017, when labor unions successfully organized to defeat a right-to-work law that would have banned compulsory union fees.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
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
-
The required curriculum and practicum hours not only prepare the graduates to serve preschool through 12th-grade students, but their families, as well.—
Jenelyn Russo,
Oc Register,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Going forward, Boeing and FAA inspectors will take turns performing the required pre-flight safety checks.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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More pertinently, if Iroegbunam or Gueye tired or did not screen passes correctly (shown below), Rogers and Emiliano Buendia had huge spaces to receive and turn, owing to Everton’s deep centre-backs refusing to step out.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The private messages offer a disturbing glimpse into how Jones — who is looking to oust incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares this fall — describes his political adversaries in private conversations.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Since then, the Internet has gone about its immemorial business of destroying all incumbent forms of media; not content with vampirizing print, the digital space began sucking the life from pay-TV a dozen years ago.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In her usual soft-spoken British accent, she was known for balancing the grim realities of the climate crisis with a sincere message of hope for the future.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Messi, who was denied by the post in the first half but who struggled to make his usual impact, walked off the field and straight to the locker room at the final whistle without stopping for any of the usual handshakes or greetings.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The mayor's office said the quick timeline is necessary to meet state notification deadlines for the change to take effect.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Jackson picked the cold case right back up but had to dispatch colleagues to do the voluminous number of necessary interviews and to pursue any new tips.—
Jean Casarez,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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