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1
necessary as a result of a rule or law
- The completion of safety training is obligatory for all new employees before they start work.
- It is obligatory for all citizens to pay their taxes by the specified deadline.
- Attending the weekly team meetings is obligatory for all members.
- In some cultures, it is obligatory to remove your shoes before entering someone's home.
- Filling out the necessary paperwork is obligatory before starting a new job.
2
done out of routine or social expectation, often with little enthusiasm
- He took the obligatory selfie before leaving the restaurant.
- Every meeting started with the obligatory small talk about the weather.
- She gave the obligatory chuckle at her coworker's terrible pun.
- The movie included the obligatory slow-motion action scene.
- He made the obligatory New Year's resolution to exercise more.
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