Find Synonyms

required Synonyms

Another word for required

Choosing another word for required depends on context, so the 22 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• verb (Context 1)

To have Needed or depended on something for a particular purpose (past tense and past participle of require).

Usage Example

"The complex restoration project needed months of careful planning and craftsmanship."

Strongest
needed
Strong
demanded
called for
necessitated
entailed
took

• adjective (Context 2)

Officially compulsory, mandatory, or otherwise considered essential and necessary for a particular purpose.

Usage Example

"Introductory biology is a mandatory course for all first-year medical students."

Strongest
mandatory
compulsory
obligatory
necessary
essential
Strong
requisite
needed
indispensable
imperative
prescribed

• verb (Context 3)

To have officially ordered, instructed, or compelled someone to do something by rule or law (past tense and past participle of require).

Usage Example

"The new safety regulations mandated all visitors to wear protective eyewear inside the laboratory."

Strongest
mandated
compelled
obligated
Strong
obliged
ordered
directed
instructed

Opposites of required

The opposite of required shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

optional
voluntary
elective
unnecessary
nonessential
discretionary
dispensable
See all opposites of required

• Nearby Words

requester
requiem
require
required
requirement
requisite
requisitely

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Required. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/required
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