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obligatory

[uh-blig-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, ob-li-guh-] / əˈblɪg əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɒb lɪ gə- /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The fiery flavouring is a staple of dining tables regionwide, the obligatory accompaniment for everything from rice and peas, to curries and stews.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

The group returned to the world spotlight in March after an almost four-year pause so its members could carry out their obligatory military service.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Rick Atkinson’s “The British Are Coming,” about the Revolutionary War, is beautifully written and started off with a bang, but soon the accounts of battles, with their obligatory suffering and death, became too much.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

“Stranger Things” stretched years between seasons as its young cast aged into adulthood, returning to massive viewership, but, some critics and fans argued, with an ending that felt obligatory.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Having heard it many times, I know when to break into the obligatory claps and screams.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung




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