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
-
The suspension is accompanied by mandatory referral to the NHL/NHLPA Program for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health for evaluation and possible treatment as stated under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
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Northwestern students told the Tribune on Monday that the university provided a mandatory antisemitic video training at the end of February.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2025
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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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 Fix: Ensure your job descriptions are clear and concise, outlining required skills, responsibilities and expectations.—
Rebecca Skilbeck,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Management did instruct Hughley to document the use of Benadryl but did not get the required parental signature on the form.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC News,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Absorb punches until Trump tires himself out or, more likely, the American people get tired of all the chaos and disruption.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Selections from the trio’s synth-heavy mid-Eighties years sound sturdier than ever within the grand sweep of Rush 50, defying the tired rock-purist take that the trio strayed too far during this period.—
Hank Shteamer,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
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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But the dark clouds, in the form of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, are more ominous than usual.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2025
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The Billboard Artist aims to showcase musicians from fresh, unexpected angles going beyond their usual image to create something truly special.—
Billboard Korea,
Billboard,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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By March, social media complaints were getting louder as Tesla wrapped up its probe, concluding that a voluntary recall was necessary.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
20 Mar. 2025
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The president's order will direct McMahon to take all necessary steps permitted by law to dissolve department, according to the sources familiar.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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