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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Recent Examples of mandatory
While controllers get extra pay for mandatory overtime, grueling 60-hour work weeks can fuel attrition.
—
Holly Yan, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
Taipei has responded by raising its defense budget to more than 2 percent, investing further in developing its own weapons platforms, making big-ticket purchases from the U.S. and increasing the length of mandatory military service from four to 12 months.
—Micah McCartney, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
The President’s Cake (Iraq, Qatar) by Hasan Hadi narrates the story of nine-year-old Lamia, who must use her wits to gather ingredients for the mandatory cake to celebrate President Saddam Hussein’s birthday.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025
Thankfully the email and password combo that used to drive the threat is becoming less dangerous, as 2FA and soon passkeys become mandatory.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mandatory
Holly Yan, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
Taipei has responded by raising its defense budget to more than 2 percent, investing further in developing its own weapons platforms, making big-ticket purchases from the U.S. and increasing the length of mandatory military service from four to 12 months.
—Micah McCartney, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
The President’s Cake (Iraq, Qatar) by Hasan Hadi narrates the story of nine-year-old Lamia, who must use her wits to gather ingredients for the mandatory cake to celebrate President Saddam Hussein’s birthday.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025
Thankfully the email and password combo that used to drive the threat is becoming less dangerous, as 2FA and soon passkeys become mandatory.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mandatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mandatory
Adjective
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Eleven European countries have compulsory military service: Austria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, and non-European Union nation Norway.—
Lorne Cook,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2025
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Latvia reintroduced compulsory military service for adult males on January 1 last year, having abolished it in 2006.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN,
9 Mar. 2025
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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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
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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
Adjective
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Researchers suggest that expressing emotions in a healthy way—whether through conversation, therapy or self-reflection—is necessary for long-term mental and physical well-being.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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Her teachings focus on necessary skills in death and death education without ignoring the crucial business and marketing training side.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mandatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mandatory. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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