obligatory

adjective

ə-ˈbli-gə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce obligatory (audio)
Definition of obligatorynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obligatory Maternal inheritance is not the only mode of endosymbiont acquisition; in less obligatory associations hosts may also acquire them from the environment. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 During the eighteenth century, travelers on the Grand Tour, completing their education in art and architectural history, made an obligatory stop in Paestum. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 While the royal family's website says that there are no obligatory codes of behavior for meeting King Charles, Queen Camilla or other royals, the traditional forms of address are a small curtsy for women and a neck bow for men. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026 And that brings us to the San Francisco Giants, which held their obligatory Pride Night on Friday by having 10 gay couples renew their vows in a pregame ceremony that included having a drag queen along the first base line. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obligatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligatory
  1. mandatory
  2. stereotyped
  3. compulsory
  4. tired
  5. required
  6. commonplace
  7. incumbent
  8. usual
Adjective
  • Bring recess back as a mandatory part of the school schedule.
    — Taylor Carney, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
  • The ruling also reflected Sotomayor’s reasoning that owners and players were still bargaining in good faith and that salary policies were mandatory subjects of bargaining.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • This is a directed, stereotyped behavior in which the highest-resolution region of the somatosensory surface is brought to bear on the object requiring the most detailed analysis.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
  • Latinos are a fundamental part of American history and culture, and one of the largest communities in the United States, yet their presence in Hollywood has long been limited, stereotyped, or overlooked.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of stereotyped
Adjective
  • Volkswagen agreed a deal with unions in late 2024 to avoid factory closures in Germany and rule out compulsory redundancies until the end of 2030.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Zverev had given his window for that day and so was put out by being told that the test, outside of that window, was compulsory.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • Depredation occurs when a shark steals an angler’s catch off their line, and Florida’s fishers are tired of it.
    — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • Pugh is tired of seeing her mom suffer by no fault of her own.
    — Bryant Reed, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • The required Biblical passages and stories impact elementary, middle and high school levels and will take effect in the 2030-2031 school year.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • Failure to respond within the required timeframe may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner, in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • Using ChatGPT, Gemini, and other artificial intelligence platforms to make everyday decisions has become commonplace.
    — Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • When spreadsheets became commonplace, companies did not hire fewer finance professionals.
    — Jeremy Fain, Fortune, 1 July 2026
Definition of commonplace
Adjective
  • At the same time, new paradigms and technologies have emerged to challenge the dysfunction of the incumbent model.
    — Gary Palmer, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Spain’s incumbent socialist government is facing challenges, but Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez argues that migration is economically necessary given the country’s aging population.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of incumbent
Adjective
  • This could include sniffing around more than usual or barking and growling at odd places like piles of leaves.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
  • Finally, a birthday that really deserves all the usual fireworks.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of usual

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obligations
obligatory
oblige
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Cite this Entry

“Obligatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligatory. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on obligatory

Nglish: Translation of obligatory for Spanish Speakers

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