EN

Synonyms for obligatory

  • adjective

Most common

required mandatory compulsory requisite necessary prerequisite perfunctory de rigueur

All synonyms

Adjective

compulsory, mandatory, required, requisite, perfunctory, necessary, prerequisite, binding, de rigueur, incumbent, imperative, indispensable, obligative, bounden dated

Antonyms

optional, elective, voluntary

All antonyms of obligatory →

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Imposing obligation, legally, morally, or otherwise; binding; mandatory.

Related words

Word family
obligatorification obligate obligated obligation obligatorily oblige obliger obliging

Example sentences

  • required I'm sorry, sir, but a jacket and tie are required.
  • mandatory English is a mandatory language in Czech schools.
  • compulsory In Algeria, it's not compulsory to wear the hijab.
  • requisite I won't be able to go travelling until the requisite visa fees are paid.
  • necessary Close observation is necessary for the experiment.
  • prerequisite Citizenship is a prerequisite for voting.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
obligatorysteady
requiredfalling
mandatorysteady
compulsoryfalling
requisitefalling
necessaryfalling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

7 letters
binding2, bounden
8 letters
required3
9 letters
necessary4, mandatory4, incumbent3, requisite3
10 letters
compulsory4, imperative4, obligative
11 letters
perfunctory4
12 letters
prerequisite4
13 letters
indispensable5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (binding2 = 2 syllables).