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 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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Recent Examples of obligatory
The format is a good one for a medical comedy, allowing for brief beats of handheld intensity when patients arrive in emergency situations and facilitating an instant connection between the characters and the camera during the obligatory confessional interviews.
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Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
And of course, because this is a titanium Kickstarter multitool, there are also the obligatory slots for optional vials of glow-in-the-dark (and slightly radioactive) tritium.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2024
For many straight men, their maiden journey to a strip club is an obligatory rite of passage, but for Baker, the incident was more fraught.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
Dealers reinforce the advantage of leasing an EV by giving buyers their applicable tax credits at the point of sale, often bundling them to lower the obligatory drive-off costs.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obligatory 
Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024
And of course, because this is a titanium Kickstarter multitool, there are also the obligatory slots for optional vials of glow-in-the-dark (and slightly radioactive) tritium.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2024
For many straight men, their maiden journey to a strip club is an obligatory rite of passage, but for Baker, the incident was more fraught.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
Dealers reinforce the advantage of leasing an EV by giving buyers their applicable tax credits at the point of sale, often bundling them to lower the obligatory drive-off costs.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
Adjective
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Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County said that about 18,000 people were in the mandatory or voluntary evacuation zones.Corina Knoll, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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Park plays Lee Jae-yoon, a man completing his mandatory military service, while Jisoo takes on the role of Kang Young-joo, his girlfriend navigating early career challenges.Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Far from being a compulsory burden or tax as some critics lazily posit, sports betting is a voluntary entertainment option, comparable to attending a concert, dining out, or going to the movies.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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An early draft of the bill was submitted by former President Ebrahim Raisi in May 2023 after the deadly protests over compulsory hijab laws.CNN staff, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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
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Chicano artists also critically reexamined stereotyped figures, such as the pachuco and pachuca, and retold current and historic events through artworks that questioned hegemonic narratives.Mary Thomas, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
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Of those cases, 10 workers died and three required lung transplants.Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
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Through required login systems and individual user profiles, streaming platforms can track viewing histories and preferences in ways traditional TV never could, creating unprecedented opportunities for advertising that’s both more personal and more effective.Bruce Gil, Quartz, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The same tired thoughts, predictable excuses, and familiar limiting beliefs play on repeat in your mind, keeping you stuck in patterns that don't serve your growth.Jodie Cook, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
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Somehow, some way, fans aren’t tired of him despite the fact his flow and production choices haven’t changed much.Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Democratic Party criticized Han Dong-hoon’s comments, saying that the exclusion of an incumbent president from state affairs isn’t supported by the Constitution.Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
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The pair needed at least 12 votes from the 16-member panel of historians, writers, and incumbent Hall of Famers who voted at the Anatole Hotel prior to the evening announcement, which was televised on the MLB Network.Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That sizable group still has relatively fresh immunity, meaning fewer people than usual are susceptible to infection right now.Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
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In these events, snowy owls can be seen much farther south than usual, throughout the lower 48 states.Tom Howarth, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Pruning is not necessary but can be used to increase blooms, shape plants, or control plant size.Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
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Data is conflicting on whether vitamin D is beneficial in cancer, and more research is necessary.Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH, Health, 8 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near obligatory
Cite this Entry
“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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