Essential
Essential adjective - Impossible to do without.
Usage example: a well-stocked public library is essential for the well-being of a community
Mandatory is a synonym for essential in required topic. In some cases you can use "Mandatory" instead an adjective "Essential", when it comes to topics like crucial.
Mandatory
Mandatory adjective - Forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law.
Usage example: the tests are mandatory for all students wishing to graduate
Essential is a synonym for mandatory in necessary topic. You can use "Essential" instead an adjective "Mandatory", if it concerns topics such as required, requisite.
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- needed and essential
- needed and mandatory
- important and essential
- important and mandatory
- necessary and essential
- necessary and mandatory
- required and essential
- required and mandatory
- imperative and essential
- imperative and mandatory
- indispensable and essential
- indispensable and mandatory
- prerequisite and essential
- prerequisite and mandatory
Both words in one sentence
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Creating the essential and mandatory Cobweb Jungle using trained and specially bred spiders, urged on with very small whips.
Source: The Igor - Plot Tunnel All non-essential plot activities are temporarily suspended during mandatory plot advancement.
Source: Interactive Storytelling Tropes - In most of Far Cry, stealth is not explicitly mandatory, but on the Hard and Realistic difficulties, it is essential, as running and gunning will get you killed in seconds.
Source: Optional Stealth
Cite this Source
Mandatory and Essential. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/essential/mandatory
Essential & Mandatory. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/essential/mandatory>.
Mandatory or Essential. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/essential/mandatory.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "essential" and "mandatory" have occurred on timeline