Required

/ɹɪˈkwaɪɹd/

Synonyms for "required" (175 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (10)

Adjective(5 words)
Verb(1 words)
Noun(1 words)

Strong matches (15)

Noun(4 words)
community-service activitycommunity-service workcore coursecore school subjects
Adjective(6 words)
compulsory assessmentcompulsory examcompulsory laborcompulsory marriagecompulsory taskcore module
Verb(1 words)

Related words (25)

Noun(6 words)
court orderedcourt-ordered servicecourt-ordered taskdeliverabledistrict mandated lesson planessential life science concept
Adjective(10 words)
crucial evidencecrucial factordemanddistrict-mandated scheduleduedue dateenforceable descriptoressentialessential biological functionessential goods

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: compulsory, mandatory, needed, absolute, behooving.
  • Sentence evidence is available for required, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, 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 "required".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "required"

Keep "required" 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 "required" 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 "required", 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 "required" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

6 relation types

More general

8 entries

More specific

12 entries
consent formdemandessentialmandatemandatorynecessitatepassportproof of residencerequired courserequired formsrequired readingstipulate

Collocations

8 entries
as requiredrequired by lawrequired courserequired formsrequired materialsrequired paperworkrequired prerequisitesrequired reading

Inflections

4 entries
more requiredmost requiredrequiresrequiring

Derivations

2 entries

similar

2 entries

Sample sentences

14 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

You're required to help them.

Source: tatoeba (15803)

A customs declaration is required.

Source: tatoeba (20816)

The students were required to learn the Constitution by heart.

Source: tatoeba (21449)

Foreigners in general don't need as many compliments as Japanese are required to give each other, and it is good to keep this in mind.

Source: tatoeba (21883)

Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "required"?

Closest matches include compulsory, mandatory, needed, absolute, behooving.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "required"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "required"