1
as in duty
something one must do because of prior agreement
their financial obligations keep them from giving to charities as much as they would like
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in debt
something (as money) which is owed
I have to pay off my current obligations before I can buy a new car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligation
The company’s only formal tie at NC State is a consent agreement assigning the school the obligations for paying existing NIL contracts that were entered into by Blueprint’s 1Pack Collective.
—
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Nearly one year after NewJeans announced their departure from the HYBE subsidiary label ADOR during a press conference, the Seoul Central District Court has ruled that the girl group must fulfill their contractual obligations through 2029.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
YouTube argued in court that Connolly would be walled off from all negotiations with Disney, and would be required to adhere to his confidentiality obligations to Disney.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
In 2022, Ghana—the world’s sixth-biggest producer of gold and number two exporter of cocoa—defaulted on its domestic and foreign debt obligations.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligation
Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Nearly one year after NewJeans announced their departure from the HYBE subsidiary label ADOR during a press conference, the Seoul Central District Court has ruled that the girl group must fulfill their contractual obligations through 2029.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
YouTube argued in court that Connolly would be walled off from all negotiations with Disney, and would be required to adhere to his confidentiality obligations to Disney.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
In 2022, Ghana—the world’s sixth-biggest producer of gold and number two exporter of cocoa—defaulted on its domestic and foreign debt obligations.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligation
Noun
-
The duty to settle honor scores was forced upon Rashida by his elders.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The adorable pup lies flat on their stomach, fast asleep, as their owner gently drags them through the airport queue—clearly not quite ready for a full day on duty.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the Brooklyn prosecution, the Mafia played a major role in the high-end poker games, with mobsters posing as ordinary players at the tables and providing the muscle to collect debts, prosecutors said.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
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United’s first goal owed a debt to a clash between Van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister, with Liverpool unhappy that play wasn’t stopped for a head injury.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Traditionally, one of the key justifications for teamwork has been its psychological benefits—the energy that comes from collaboration, the reduced stress of shared responsibility, the excitement of building on each other’s ideas.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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Silva deserves credit for trusting an 18-year-old to shoulder the responsibility, even when King has shown his inexperience.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Part of me has to lie—part of me has to die—to satisfy someone else’s need for their language to fit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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Additionally, 84% of executives believe AI will significantly enhance their ability to respond rapidly to market trends, disruptions, and evolving customer needs.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Earlier this month, Bush told PEOPLE that Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his wife, actress Hailee Steinfeld, have previously put on the party, but work commitments prevented Steinfeld from continuing the tradition.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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He is known for his decades-long commitment to storytelling, education and cultural impact through his work on Reading Rainbow, which earned more than 200 broadcast awards including multiple Emmys and a Peabody.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligation. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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