MANDATORY Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

mandatory

adjective

ˈman-də-ˌtȯr-ē

as in compulsory

forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law the tests are mandatory for all students wishing to graduate

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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 mandatory In addition, the school recently raised mandatory student athletic fees by 41%, from $580 per year to $840, which will be phased in over three years. —

Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026 Furthermore, per the committee’s findings, the mandatory DEI training inundated the department’s criminal investigations wing with group meetings, assignments, and other onerous tasks that took time away from actual fraud investigations. —

Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 13 May 2026 The reductions there include slashing roughly half of the formation's budget and gutting pilots' flight hours down to minimum mandatory levels. —

Steve Beynon, ABC News, 13 May 2026 The first-in-the-nation rule was approved by the air board in 2023, and is scheduled to be mandatory for all residents of the nine-county Bay Area in eight months. —

Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for mandatory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mandatory

Adjective

Until recently both were compulsory and couldn’t be removed.

— David Phelan, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Alito asked whether that child, born to an Iranian citizen, and therefore also an Iranian citizen, was still subject to Iran’s law requiring compulsory military service.

— Michael Szalma, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026