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

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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

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 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 Not just an obligatory gesture but something that felt genuine and heartfelt. — Chicago Tribune, 17 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
  • Zambada’s punishment was guaranteed by his guilty plea last year to drug trafficking charges that carry a mandatory life sentence.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • The original bZ4X often felt like Toyota showing up because attendance was mandatory.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 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
  • That steady flow of compulsory contributions, rather than the account itself, is what built Australia’s vast retirement savings pool.
    — Kris Iyer, Fortune, 22 July 2026
  • The film is a reminder that conformity is never compulsory, and that putting yourself out there is the only way to find out who’s ready to catch you.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • The brand is winning over tired consumers who already reach for something sweet before bed by combining the comfort of a late-night treat with ingredients designed to support a better sleep routine.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026
  • Some get the number of dollars tied to their age (this used to be the case for Ollie and his brother, Owen, until their mom, Rebecca, got tired of them fighting over their disparate payouts) and others much more.
    — Erika Janes, Curbed, 17 July 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • According to a July 3 letter obtained by The Sacramento Bee, the city still needed to complete required rezoning, adopt the housing element and submit both to HCD before the department could certify the plan.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
  • Plaintiffs alleged that the event promoters were negligent in failing to secure required permits, not providing adequate security or crowd control and misrepresenting the event as safe for families, according to the statement.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • Many of its engineering solutions would later become commonplace across both high-performance and mainstream vehicles.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • But private‑to‑private supply — in which a private generator sells directly to an industrial or commercial buyer using the grid, a practice that is commonplace across the West — remains rare on the continent.
    — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of commonplace
Adjective
  • There has not been a truly open Democratic presidential primary — without an incumbent president or a dominant frontrunner — in almost two decades.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • Other contenders on the stage gave far better answers, but Jackson is the one who is on the cusp of becoming the Democratic nominee in Maine, where the party has its most realistic shot at knocking off an incumbent Republican Senator.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 23 July 2026
Definition of incumbent
Adjective
  • The 2026 edition of IFFM will present its usual slate of films, conversations and cultural programming spanning Indian cinema’s various languages and regional traditions.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • But again, since Christopher Nolan’s films don’t follow the streaming release strategy that most other Universal films do, Peacock subscribers are in for a longer wait than usual before the film makes its SVOD on the platform.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of usual

Browse Nearby Words

obligations
obligatory
oblige
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Cite this Entry

“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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