as in voluntary
subject to one's freedom of choice
at the resort all recreational activities are optional, and you may choose to participate in none of them
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of optional
Senate Concurrent Resolution 108 supports the Department of Education’s decision to give PragerU Kids’ supplemental materials to school districts for optional inclusion in school curricula.
—
Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 18 Feb. 2025
In the federal government, the TAS field was optional for ~$4.7 trillion in payments and was often left blank, making traceability almost impossible.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
That’s a relief for the rest of the unit’s doctors, who were reluctant to take on the shifts due to the high cost of medical malpractice insurance, which is optional for doctors in the state of Florida and is also not provided by the hospital.
—Verónica Egui Brito and, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
The newest Prestige has three generously-sized staterooms, with an optional cabin for the captain.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 18 Feb. 2025
In the federal government, the TAS field was optional for ~$4.7 trillion in payments and was often left blank, making traceability almost impossible.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
That’s a relief for the rest of the unit’s doctors, who were reluctant to take on the shifts due to the high cost of medical malpractice insurance, which is optional for doctors in the state of Florida and is also not provided by the hospital.
—Verónica Egui Brito and, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
The newest Prestige has three generously-sized staterooms, with an optional cabin for the captain.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optional
Adjective
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There will be three members to the firing squad team − voluntary corrections staff − and all will stand behind a wall with loaded rifles 15 feet from the inmate.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
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Johnson also can lay out his vision for the voluntary offseason program, which can begin April 7 for teams that hired new head coaches.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Multiple league sources have said the cast is a result of a recent minor elective procedure Williams had on his right hand, with the quarterback’s recovery not expected to significantly inhibit his offseason training.—
Dan Wiederer,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2025
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After the successful elective surgery ― prior to anesthesia or antiseptics and involving a 22-pound growth ― Crawford lived for another three decades, and her son Thomas became mayor of Louisville.—
The Arizona Republic,
The Arizona Republic,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The top sub-sectors were semiconductors, technology hardware, and national defense distribution, while coal, consumer discretionary distribution, and household appliances were the worst.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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Others propose cutting discretionary spending, but these programs account for only one-third of the federal budget, making even the most aggressive cuts politically unacceptable without making much dent in our debt.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Orange County Register,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optional. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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