Facultative and Obligate

Facultative

Facultative adjective - Able to exist under more than one set of conditions.
Usage example: a facultative parasite can exist as a parasite or a saprophyte
Show all Definitions
Synonyms for Facultative

Obligate is an antonym for facultative.

Nearby Word: facultatively

Obligate

Obligate adjective - Restricted to a particular condition of life.
Usage example: an obligate anaerobe can survive only in the absence of oxygen

Facultative is an antonym for obligate.

Cite this Source
Obligate and Facultative. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/facultative/obligate
Facultative & Obligate. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/facultative/obligate>.
Obligate or Facultative. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/facultative/obligate.


Google Ngram Viewer shows how "facultative" and "obligate" have occurred on timeline