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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligatory
There’s the obligatory seafood tower ($115), which depending on the season might include shucked oysters, spiny lobster, Santa Barbara uni and succulent chunks of Dungeness crab.
—
John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
From seemingly nowhere, the phrase became nearly obligatory in attacks on the Trump administration and in the press coverage.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 14 Feb. 2025
The ensemble is rounded out by Soviet-era screen legend Galina Jovovich and rising talent Nerses Stamos, with obligatory cameos from it-girl Gabbriette and music exec Zack Bia.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Crimean Tatars—members of an indigenous Muslim minority known for its resistance to Russian rule—were targeted disproportionately for obligatory military service.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
From seemingly nowhere, the phrase became nearly obligatory in attacks on the Trump administration and in the press coverage.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 14 Feb. 2025
The ensemble is rounded out by Soviet-era screen legend Galina Jovovich and rising talent Nerses Stamos, with obligatory cameos from it-girl Gabbriette and music exec Zack Bia.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Crimean Tatars—members of an indigenous Muslim minority known for its resistance to Russian rule—were targeted disproportionately for obligatory military service.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
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And given the mandatory retirement age, the FAA must grapple with constant attrition.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The bill instructs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to slash $880 billion in mandatory spending.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Hybrid and flexible work environments that are built around intentional in-person experiences rather than compulsory presence can drive greater innovation and engagement.—
Solange Charas,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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India, in less than two years, subjected millions of citizens to compulsory sterilization.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Tragedies can be examined by those outside of its sphere of destruction, but the groundswell of feeling from Mexican viewers and critics is that there was little or no care taken to understand the cultural grief beyond stereotyped spectacle.—
Lucy Ford,
TIME,
24 Jan. 2025
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Founded by artists who grew up in Maryvale, Salcido said the purpose of Labor is to be the bridge that shows the artistic capacity and potential of Maryvale because the neighborhood is too often stereotyped, underrepresented and ignored.—
David Ulloa Jr,
The Arizona Republic,
6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The intrigue: Other federal agencies receive money from Congress to make required employer contributions; the Post Office doesn't.—
Felix Salmon,
Axios,
24 Feb. 2025
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Critics argue, though, that such crackdowns invariably ensnare the poor and the homeless in the criminal justice system, such as when a warrant is issued because someone with an initial summons doesn’t show up in court or pay the required fine.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Sleep deprivation comes with real costs Chronic sleep deprivation does more than leave people tired.—
Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 2025
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Markets grow tired of tariff changes U.S. stocks tumbled Thursday on tariff flip-flop fatigue.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Fleming’s internal polling shows him in a close race against the incumbent senator.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
9 Mar. 2025
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But try telling that to anyone who has ever been mayor of New York City, including the incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, who is fighting an uphill battle to stay in City Hall in the face of his own scandal.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As usual, Soderbergh edits in style using his Mary Ann Bernard pseudonym and his Peter Andrews pseudonym as well for the fine cinematography.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2025
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Agencies that have already received funding approval or operate on a permanent funding basis would continue to operate as usual.—
Nik Popli,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Additional studies are necessary to understand how acetyl-L-carnitine impacts neuropathy and whether the benefit depends on the type of neuropathy.—
Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN,
Verywell Health,
7 Mar. 2025
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The market, says Lau, is a necessary evolution, with people moving in from out of state and the older generation of Mills 50 business owners retiring.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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