If school wasn't obligatory, I would stop going there.
Source: tatoeba (739181)
Obligatory
/əˈblɪɡətɔɹi/
Synonyms for "obligatory" (141 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (29)
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(12 words)
binding agreementbinding clausebinding legal rulebinding vowcompulsorycompulsory assessmentcompulsory examcompulsory laborcompulsory marriagecompulsory taskconventionalcore module
Noun(10 words)
binding contractbinding decisionbinding effectbinding instrumentcatalan obligaciócommittalcommunity-service activitycommunity-service workcourt orderedcourt-ordered service
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (42)
Noun(5 words)
court-ordered taskforced marchforced readinggovernment ministriesgraduation requirement
Adjective(13 words)
crucial evidencedistrict-mandated scheduledueenforceableenforceable descriptoressential questionsessential service provisionexpectedforced laborforced responsegovernment-mandatedgovernment-mandated programincumbent arrangement
de rigueurdecisivedecretorydemandeddictatedentailedessentialexigentfinalhard and fasthard-and-fastimperativeimperiousimportunateimposedincumbentindispensableinevitableinvoluntary
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (70)
Adjective(29 words)
legal obligationmandated servicemandated textmandatorymandatory actmandatory assignmentmandatory attendancemandatory biology unitsmandatory clausemandatory community servicemandatory policymandatory servicemandatory testingmandatory trainingnecessaryneedfulnormativerequiredrequired courserequired reading
Show 9 more words
required servicesocial obligationstatutory codestatutory corpusstatutory guidelinestatutory measurestatutory reportingstatutory requirementsunavoidable
Noun(17 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Determiner(1 words)
most forced reading
Adverb(1 words)
most frequent value
Verb(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: absolute, behooving, binding, binding agreement, binding clause.
- Sentence evidence is available for obligatory, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wiktionary, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "obligatory".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "obligatory"
Keep "obligatory" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "obligatory" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "obligatory", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "obligatory" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
6 entriescourse requirementlab reportlegal obligationmidterm exampolite greetingproper introduction
Collocations
5 entriesobligatory assignmentobligatory attendanceobligatory courseobligatory policyobligatory reading
Inflections
2 entriesmore obligatorymost obligatory
Derivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
10 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
Presence of all members is obligatory.
Source: tatoeba (897254)
One may add matres lectionis when the word could be ambiguous, but surely it is not obligatory.
Source: tatoeba (2005116)
Is it obligatory to rent a car?
Source: tatoeba (3671057)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "obligatory"?
Closest matches include absolute, behooving, binding, binding agreement, binding clause.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "obligatory"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.