OBLIGATORY Synonyms: 150 Similar and Opposite Words

obligatory

adjective

ə-ˈbli-gə-ˌtȯr-ē

Definition of obligatory

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

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of obligatory Those were the obligatory calls, to his brothers in the Oakland Fire Department, to his father, Bob, retired after thirty-five years, and his uncle, Tom, who’d put in twenty-six. — Peter Wilkinson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 But her subsequent campaigning has not been notable and has been largely limited to obligatory Democratic events and Pritzker bill signings. — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026 The obligatory weekly hour-long class was introduced in September 2022 to promote the Kremlin’s views on patriotism and Russian history including the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 While several countries have tried opt-out systems, France is hoping more muscular obligatory opt-in rules will be more effective. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obligatory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory

Adjective

In a country where enlistment is mandatory for most Jewish men and women, these exemptions have always angered the broader public.

— Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Other campaign issues include mandatory military service, which is particularly sensitive for religious Jewish parties and Haredi communities.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of mandatory

Adjective

Despite their outer appearances and oftentimes stereotyped personalities, the ladies embrace each other’s depths and contradictions.

— Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
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

Definition of stereotyped

Adjective

Those include whether the fast-growing ultra-Orthodox population should remain exempted from compulsory military service in a country where many families have seen their sons and daughters killed in three years of inconclusive wars.

— Cara Anna, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
About 330,000 young Israelis, many facing compulsory military service under the shadow of war, are eligible to vote for the first time.

— Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of compulsory

Adjective

And most of us are tired of paying for the playthings of millionaires and billionaires.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Airbnb guests who are tired of spending the final hour of their vacation stripping beds and scrubbing pans are about to get a break.

— Lena Borrelli, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of tired

Adjective

However, Brookfield disputed the claim and said no compensation is currently owed to BHV, and that any compensation was conditional on the premises being returned in the required condition.

— Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026
No specific guidelines were given – just the required proportions.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of required

Adjective

So on Wednesday, after a full day of quiet, more people than usual were out on the streets in Kherson, enjoying the short glimpse of peaceful life, though many said the calm still felt unsettling.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
For example, because of their own home-buying timeline, a seller may need to close very quickly or may need more time than usual.

— Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of usual

Adjective

While campaigning Wednesday, Peltola called the story a distraction, according to Alaska Public Media, and the non-incumbent Sullivan did not respond to Alaska Public Media's requests for comment.

— Ashley Lopez, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Roger Marshall, the incumbent Republican senator, has backed Trump on almost all these policies.

— Emma Green, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of incumbent

Adjective

As much as price rises for PC hardware have become commonplace over the past couple of years amid the ongoing memory shortage, the recent rises are unprecedented.

— Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
Paintings of urban dining were commonplace among the Ashcan portfolios of John Sloan and Robert Henri, the latter whose mysterious nocturnes of outdoor night cafés seem particularly relevant.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of commonplace

Browse Nearby Words

obligations

obligatory

oblige

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“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of obligatory

adjective

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