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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligatory
Research suggests that voluntary, meaningful giving is more beneficial than giving that feels obligatory or stressful.
—
Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
For a while there, going to the barbershop could feel like an obligatory act of personal maintenance—more stylish than getting your teeth cleaned, but not by much.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2025
The country’s Superannuation system began obligatory payments in 1992 at 3% of earnings.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025
The more American power must be constrained, the more Washington will have to excel at persuasion, the obligatory pursuit of countries that are not hegemons.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
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The negotiations have been mired in disagreements over how mandatory water cuts should be divided among the states.—
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On the production of child pornography offense, Sayer faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison on each count.—
Adjective
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Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.—
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Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Adjective
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More recently, the church was sued by a former employee over a policy of compulsory tithing.—
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The core design feature is compulsory arbitration, where everyone agrees that if there is a dispute, it is heard by a process overseen by the commissioner—and unlike litigation, it is conducted in private.—
Adjective
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The first turned a fourth-quarter fumble into a 59-yard score when Achane burst through a tired, and seemingly defeated Buffalo defensive front and outsprinted the Bills’ entire secondary to the end zone.—
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But that feels like a tired, outdated characterisation.—
Adjective
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The victim was taken to the hospital with two stab wounds to her back, and cuts on her arm and hand that authorities say required stitches, per prosecutors.—
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Families and participants are responsible only for transportation to the adventure locations and for obtaining any required hunting or fishing licenses.—
Adjective
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The incidents have mainly taken place in states where aerial pesticides have become more commonplace.—
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Including a mid-round pick (or two) is a simple and commonplace way for teams to maximize their return in a trade.—
Adjective
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In the short run, this would see sellers and incumbent owners capturing much of the benefit while first‑time buyers face higher entry prices.—
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The convincing Democratic wins reinforced the core truth that attitudes about the incumbent president are now the driving force in off-year elections.—
Adjective
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As usual, Coon thrives in ambiguity, layering a seemingly straightforward woman with depth.—
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As a result, Musick elected to bench her usual rotation for much of the second half.—
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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