Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun mandatory

2 senses of mandatory

Sense 1
mandatary, mandatory -- (the recipient of a mandate)
       => recipient, receiver -- (a person who receives something)

Sense 2
mandate, mandatory -- (a territory surrendered by Turkey or Germany after World War I and put under the tutelage of some other European power until they are able to stand by themselves)
       => district, territory, territorial dominion, dominion -- (a region marked off for administrative or other purposes)

Antonyms of adj mandatory

1 sense of mandatory

Sense 1
compulsory, mandatory, required -- (required by rule; "in most schools physical education is compulsory"; "attendance is mandatory"; "required reading")

INDIRECT (VIA obligatory) -> optional -- (possible but not necessary; left to personal choice)

Similarity of adj mandatory

1 sense of mandatory

Sense 1
compulsory, mandatory, required -- (required by rule; "in most schools physical education is compulsory"; "attendance is mandatory"; "required reading")
       => obligatory (vs. optional) -- (morally or legally constraining or binding; "attendance is obligatory"; "an obligatory contribution")