as in voluntary
subject to one's freedom of choice
at the resort all recreational activities are optional, and you may choose to participate in none of them
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of optional
Garnish with a strawberry slice, a light crack of black pepper, and optional basil leaf.
—
Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
In addition, San Diego High’s Liliana Mendoza, who was last year’s all-around optional champion, finished 13th in the all-around scoring, including placing 11th in beam.
—Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
Stone was a full participant at Friday’s optional morning skate at Ball Arena, staying out on the ice for more than 40 minutes.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 23 May 2026
The optional Surface keyboard is a breeze to attach magnetically, can tilt for a more comfortable typing angle, barely adds weight to the device, and is comfortable to use.
—Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for optional
Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
In addition, San Diego High’s Liliana Mendoza, who was last year’s all-around optional champion, finished 13th in the all-around scoring, including placing 11th in beam.
—Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
Stone was a full participant at Friday’s optional morning skate at Ball Arena, staying out on the ice for more than 40 minutes.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 23 May 2026
The optional Surface keyboard is a breeze to attach magnetically, can tilt for a more comfortable typing angle, barely adds weight to the device, and is comfortable to use.
—Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for optional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optional
Adjective
-
Deputies from both agencies worked with Palm Coast Animal Control for a voluntary surrender of the animals.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
23 May 2026
-
Mandatory service fees are treated differently from voluntary tips and may not automatically go to servers unless the restaurant specifies.—
Jake Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
That would be especially helpful given that Newsom, as a parting gesture, wants to all but eliminate the elective office of state superintendent of public instruction and vest nearly all education oversight in the governor’s office.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
26 May 2026
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Claire’s elective death therefore remains a problematic choice for some viewers, an act of vainglorious selfishness from a woman who was never terribly nice to begin with.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Defer essential or discretionary expenses that are reasonably affordable.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
-
Perhaps more important, a new gas tax would land on purchases that many Americans did not consider discretionary; for commuters, farmers, and people living in rural areas, gasoline was not a luxury good or an environmental abstraction.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optional. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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