obligatory

adjective

ə-ˈbli-gə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce obligatory (audio)
Definition of obligatorynext
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 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 Bags big and small should also be an obligatory purchase, since there’s a wide selection of crossbody purses, shoulder bags, and more, on sale. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 The obligatory army of A-list funny people (Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle operating at minimal annoyingness) assembles to praise him in this two-part doc from directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio. — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026 The songs from the original are all back and arranged identically, with the obligatory new song relegated to the end credits. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026 Maternal inheritance is not the only mode of endosymbiont acquisition; in less obligatory associations hosts may also acquire them from the environment. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
  1. mandatory
  2. stereotyped
  3. compulsory
  4. tired
  5. required
  6. commonplace
  7. incumbent
  8. usual
Adjective
  • If convicted of the state charges, Boelter could face mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The order explicitly states the program cannot be used to establish a mandatory federal licensing, permitting or preclearance requirement for the development or release of new AI models.
    — Luke Fountain,Megan Cassella, CNBC, 3 Aug. 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
  • While vessel inspections are not compulsory, member states can request a secondary inspection of a vessel in line with specified criteria.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But compulsory citizen participation in self-governance has a long and distinguished history.
    — Susan Ostermann, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • Well, the growing season in the South is a long one, and even the best thrillers get tired, the spillers get leggy, and the fillers sometimes disappear.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Replace Cabinet Hardware New drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, and even hinges can make quite the impact on your tired old kitchen cabinets.
    — Barbara Bellesi Zito, The Spruce, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • The resolution there would be unlikely to muster the required 60 votes needed to advance.
    — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The city later cleared the restaurant to reopen after the required corrections were made.
    — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • The three will open Terruño Ancestral Spirits in the LoDo space later this month, showcasing spirits from their native Mexico along with traditional dishes beyond the Tex-Mex style that has become commonplace in the states.
    — Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026
  • This situation risks becoming commonplace, even if it’s regulated.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of commonplace
Adjective
  • Because so much time has elapsed since Disney last covered the Super Bowl, the company wasn’t burdened by the same degree of obligations to incumbent sponsors that CBS, Fox and NBC face.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Lake beat out a former mayor, a former longtime county legislator and a sitting legislator, in the first Jackson County executive election without an incumbent candidate in more than two decades.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of incumbent
Adjective
  • Moore’s frayed, full-volume, Barbie-pink ball gown with a distressed bow was a break from her usual structured looks.
    — Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Warming the roof of the mouth—for example, by pressing the tongue against the palate or drinking a room-temperature beverage—can hasten recovery from brain freeze by allowing blood vessels and sensory nerves to return to their usual state.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of usual

Browse Nearby Words

obligations
obligatory
oblige
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on obligatory

Nglish: Translation of obligatory for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All