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 cliche
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
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Recent Examples of obligatory
Stick around through the end credits for the obligatory teaser of what’s in store and a breezy homage to an earlier iteration.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025
The series’ obligatory Hairstyling and Makeup nominations feel like an insult at this point.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2025
Admirably, the Queen and the King fight similar biological urges at thousands of obligatory public functions.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Plus, there’s the obligatory planet-threatening inter-dimensional portal which must be closed.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025
The series’ obligatory Hairstyling and Makeup nominations feel like an insult at this point.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2025
Admirably, the Queen and the King fight similar biological urges at thousands of obligatory public functions.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Plus, there’s the obligatory planet-threatening inter-dimensional portal which must be closed.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
-
The recalled mattresses violate a mandatory flammability standard for mattresses, posing a fire hazard and risk of serious injury or death to consumers.—
Emma Marsden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
-
The robocalls also falsely claimed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would use vote-by-mail records to track individuals for mandatory vaccinations, Nessel's office said.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, Department of Education regulators are tasked with determining what subjects private institutions are teaching and if their curriculum adheres to compulsory education standards.—
Adina Mermelstein Konikoff,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
-
Written as the compulsory number for the middle school division of the 92nd NHK All-Japan School Choir Competition, the song launched with 26,388 downloads to hit No. 1 for metric, while coming in at No. 16 for streaming, No. 15 for video, and No. 56 for radio.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
Their negative stereotyped reputation seems to follow them like ageism follows older employees or sexism follows female employees.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
No required Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification from the company was viewable on the state’s Labor and Economic Opportunity website as of the morning of Wednesday, July 23.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
-
The petition drive was a required step to keep the cityhood application process going.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
To anyone tired of dysfunction, this is a new beginning.—
Mike Levin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 July 2025
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Cosmetic procedures were once only whispered about, carefully timed around the holidays to create the illusion that a restful getaway had erased wrinkles, brightened tired eyes and restored a youthful, refreshed look.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ossoff is the only incumbent Democratic senator from a state Trump won in 2024 who is up for re-election in November 2026.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
29 July 2025
-
Mamdani, now the Democratic nominee, faces challenges from independent Andrew Cuomo, who the former Democratic governor of the state, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (also running as an independent), and Republican Curtis Sliwa.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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The volatility also comes amid the expectation of a peak shipping season that came and went earlier than usual due to the tariff whiplash.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
28 July 2025
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While Davidson stuck to his usual casual attire, his girlfriend went for a more formal look for the event.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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The ceasefire will bring an end to fighting for 42 days, allowing necessary aid to enter Gaza and 33 Israeli hostages to be released in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Their primary tool is a controversial and seldom used move to flee the state and break the quorum necessary to proceed in the legislative session.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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