OPTIONAL Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

optional

adjective

ˈäp-sh(ə-)nəl

Definition of optional

as in voluntary

subject to one's freedom of choice at the resort all recreational activities are optional, and you may choose to participate in none of them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of optional Organizers advocate for responsible clothing-optional use of public lands. — Sooji Nam, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026 Avoid completing optional profile fields that reveal extra details about your life. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The hats are optional additions to officers’ standard uniforms, according to officials. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026 If your goal is simply to complete a 5K at a comfortable walking pace, a formal training plan is optional. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for optional

Recent Examples of Synonyms for optional

Adjective

The state has been facing abnormally dry conditions since 2024, prompting action from the statehouse and voluntary water restrictions.

— Renee Anderson, CBS News, 30 July 2026
They will be established through voluntary federal-state partnerships.

— Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026

Definition of voluntary

Adjective

Making good on his campaign promises won’t be an easy task for Hilton, a former adviser to ex-United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron who has never held elective office.

— MIchael R. Blood, Fortune, 23 July 2026
Graham Nordone spent most of hers in disability services and workforce development rather than elective politics.

— Terry Collins, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Definition of elective

Adjective

William White is known for emphasizing the role of financial asset prices in gauging inflation, which may be conducive to a discretionary approach.

— David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Many of them are in the season of life when discretionary income rises to meet peak discretionary time.

— Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of discretionary

Browse Nearby Words

option

optional

optionally

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optional. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of optional

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on optional

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

colloquial

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes