Obligatory and Optional

Opposite meaning words

Obligatory adjective - Forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law.

Usage example: in this state, school attendance is obligatory until the age of 16

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Optional is an antonym for obligatory in topics: compulsory, essential.

Nearby Words: obligation, obliging, obligate, obligatorily, obligating

Optional adjective - Subject to one's freedom of choice.

Usage example: at the resort all recreational activities are optional, and you may choose to participate in none of them

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Obligatory is an antonym for optional in voluntary topic.

Nearby Words: option, optionally

Cite this Source

Optional and Obligatory. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/obligatory/optional

Obligatory & Optional. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/obligatory/optional>.

Optional or Obligatory. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/obligatory/optional.

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