commit

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as in to pledge
to obligate by prior agreement we were committed to finishing the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word commit distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of commit are confide, consign, entrust, and relegate. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

When can confide be used instead of commit?

In some situations, the words confide and commit are roughly equivalent. However, confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When could consign be used to replace commit?

The meanings of consign and commit largely overlap; however, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

In what contexts can entrust take the place of commit?

The words entrust and commit can be used in similar contexts, but entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

Where would relegate be a reasonable alternative to commit?

While the synonyms relegate and commit are close in meaning, relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

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 commit Horner spent much of last week fielding questions over Verstappen’s future with the team after the Dutch driver declined to commit to stay with Red Bull for 2026. James Ellingworth, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025 Those who embark on the challenge must commit to completing two workouts a day, following a strict diet and drinking a gallon of water (along with other nutrition, fitness and self-help tasks) every day for 75 days. Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 9 July 2025 Khan’s predecessor, Fatou Bensouda, got approval in 2020 to start looking at offenses allegedly committed by Afghan government forces, the Taliban, American troops and U.S. foreign intelligence operatives dating back to 2002. Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025 Court documents said Bell was accused of committing the murders while seeking revenge for the death of his brother, who had been killed by West’s half-brother, Theodore Wright, earlier in 1993. Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for commit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commit
Verb
  • The procedural process on the Senate floor is also complicated with limited time to execute.
    Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 14 July 2025
  • Now, Trump and his education secretary, Linda McMahon, are free to execute the layoffs and break up the department’s work among other federal agencies.
    Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • The Houston Texans have pledged $500,000 to the community after a deadly flash flood in Texas Hill Country claimed the lives of at least 32 people, including children, Friday.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
  • The Republican leader pledged to remove millions of immigrants without legal status as part of a hard-line mass deportation policy.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Only three of the top seven players in the world are left in the draw.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 5 July 2025
  • Capital Gains: Stability Reigns Surprisingly, the legislation leaves capital gains rates untouched.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • According to Collin County records, he was jailed and released.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2025
  • Maxwell was jailed for 20 years in June 2022 following a one month trial concluding in December 2021.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • The military branch is slated to perform its first-ever refueling of a U.S. military asset in orbit as early as next summer.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025
  • That means paying for running backs who can perform at an elite level.
    Austin Meek, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle vowed Monday to move forward with the prosecution of the 38-year-old twin Alexander brothers in the same case — even with the likelihood of trial being remote.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
  • Dayton vowed to come back and audition again in 2025.
    Glamour, Glamour, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • After her first two England camps in charge in September 2021, Wiegman — in the absence of former England captain Steph Houghton — handed Williamson the armband.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 5 July 2025
  • Ramsey handed the check to 12-year-old Finn Cropp and shook hands and took photos with the kids afterward.
    Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Those imprisoned under that code were forced to wear a pink triangle to denote homosexuality.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
  • The crackdown left hundreds killed, thousands imprisoned and several executed.
    Sahar Zand, ABC News, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commit. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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