1
2
as in thankful
feeling or expressing gratitude
I'd be much obliged if you could do me this favor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in delighted
to do a service or favor for
I would appreciate it greatly if you could oblige me by bringing a dessert to the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compelled
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
I know you're in a hurry, but you can't oblige me to drive any faster than the speed limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obliged
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
The last time Alexander had been on the show, Colbert obliged, handing him a tub of pickles to bring to his father.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Marshall, like all the rest of them, was eventually let go for not knowing anything, but not before more time was wasted by detectives, who were obliged to interview most of these sideshows.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Under federal law, the company was obliged to report the error and return the money.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2026
Garavani and Giammetti, his business partner and close friend, happily obliged.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2026
Williams obliged, but told him his tires were in bad shape.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Mackey, trusting his father, obliged, but later regretted it.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
The pair chatted before Cooper asked DiCaprio to take a photo with him, and DiCaprio happily obliged.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
The aristocrat obliged and ordered the construction of the Duomo.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
The last time Alexander had been on the show, Colbert obliged, handing him a tub of pickles to bring to his father.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Marshall, like all the rest of them, was eventually let go for not knowing anything, but not before more time was wasted by detectives, who were obliged to interview most of these sideshows.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Under federal law, the company was obliged to report the error and return the money.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2026
Garavani and Giammetti, his business partner and close friend, happily obliged.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2026
Williams obliged, but told him his tires were in bad shape.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Mackey, trusting his father, obliged, but later regretted it.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
The pair chatted before Cooper asked DiCaprio to take a photo with him, and DiCaprio happily obliged.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliged
Adjective
-
The spokesperson did not respond to specific questions including what the legal basis would be for rescinding obligated funding.—
Jan Ellen Spiegel,
Hartford Courant,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Cuyler couldn't be more thankful.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Personally, just so thankful to be able to be a part of this.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
However, epicureans will be delighted with the resort hotel's culinary options, including a restaurant helmed by superstar chef Eric Ripert.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, some 1,600 miles away in Abilene, the owner of Seven and One Books, Arlene Kasselman, also has been delighted with the response to the phone outside her store.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
We are compelled, from the indirect astrophysical evidence and the high-quality null results from direct detection efforts, to consider it seriously.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The Frist felt compelled to spotlight one more Nashville women artist as part of its 25th anniversary celebration.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The players are appreciative of her culinary creations, too.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Nobody is more appreciative than me.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Kennedy’s concern with productivity would have pleased Charles Davenport, a powerful leader of 20th-century American eugenics.—
Sarah DiGregorio,
Vanity Fair,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The Monarchs gave JSerra little opportunity to make an offensive threat, and that pleased Mater Dei coach Sean Ganey.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But without any leads nor money to return back to her comfortable life in India, Mehr is forced to work as a housemaid for these eccentric artists Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Choreographed to perfection, yet not in a way that felt forced in the slightest, Bono and company distilled their brilliant Elevation Tour into a spellbinding three-song set that found the band performing while names of terrorist victims were shown on the big screen.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Atwood is grateful for her certification and is now envisioning brighter and better days.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In some sense, there’s a palpable disgust that this community has responded not by cowering, not by submitting, not by being grateful for this sort of armed invasion that is meant to stress everyone out, but by trying to foil it.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliged. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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