as in compelled
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
the problem is of your own making, so don't think that you can obligate me to help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligated
Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2025
Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
According to Castle, simple math suggests that the more fake streams the streaming companies are able to eradicate from their systems, the less money they’ll be obligated to dole out to labels.
—Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images In broad strokes, a fiduciary is one who is legally obligated to act in the best interest of their clients.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued Thursday that Supreme Court precedent made clear that the couple had a right to access funds Venezuela’s current leadership is willing and obligated to pay per the country’s laws.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Looking at the issue from the perspective of Christian ethics, theology scholar Matthew Lee Anderson argues that there’s a case to be made that, in certain narrow circumstances, Christians are not only allowed but obligated to gossip.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 26 Mar. 2026
She was obligated to sing her big barnstormers on loop, which offered fans a cruel barometer by which to judge her decline.
—Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Then, a series of legal battles obligated Los Angeles to control the dust.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, the county remains legally obligated to maintain the road.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
For example, you're not obligated to buy the car rental company's expensive insurance, regardless of what a car rental salesperson claims.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
According to Castle, simple math suggests that the more fake streams the streaming companies are able to eradicate from their systems, the less money they’ll be obligated to dole out to labels.
—Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images In broad strokes, a fiduciary is one who is legally obligated to act in the best interest of their clients.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, argued Thursday that Supreme Court precedent made clear that the couple had a right to access funds Venezuela’s current leadership is willing and obligated to pay per the country’s laws.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Looking at the issue from the perspective of Christian ethics, theology scholar Matthew Lee Anderson argues that there’s a case to be made that, in certain narrow circumstances, Christians are not only allowed but obligated to gossip.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 26 Mar. 2026
She was obligated to sing her big barnstormers on loop, which offered fans a cruel barometer by which to judge her decline.
—Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Then, a series of legal battles obligated Los Angeles to control the dust.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, the county remains legally obligated to maintain the road.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligated
Verb
-
The Epstein files have been a thorn in the DOJ leadership’s side for the past year, culminating in a new law that compelled the department to release all unclassified documents, videos, and photos related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Apr. 2026
-
On June 15, 1215, rebellious nobles compelled King John of England to sign the Magna Carta.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The sounds here are largely indebted to the wave of Eurodance that crossed the oceans in the late 1990s and early 2000s.—
Reanna Cruz,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Where the risks turn greater is if bond yields rise enough to hurt the US economy and to negatively affect the refinancing ability of highly indebted companies that use private market lending.—
Edward Harrison,
Bloomberg,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Soft, adjustable lighting, outdoor rain showers with peepholes framing the scenery, incredibly comfy poolside daybeds, super-crisp sheets, open-plan bathrooms with capacious closets—everything works, but nothing feels forced or superfluous.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
But Broidy’s suit received tremendous publicity, driving away all of Global Risk’s clients, even the Qataris, and Chalker was forced to lay off its entire staff.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Zeder said in a statement the board is grateful for Jaber’s service.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Very grateful to have called him a good friend.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Like Ash Wednesday, Good Friday is a day where Catholics are obliged to fast and stay abstinent throughout the day until midnight.—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The famously-shy sophomore obliged, several of her teammates whipping out their phones to record the big moment.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Pentagon has shelled out nearly $5 billion over the past year to help ensure its access to the materials after the trade war laid bare just how beholden the U.S. is to China.—
Didi Tang,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
But Netanyahu was beholden for his political future to the radical minority that supported it, and constantly catered to their whims.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the mid-twentieth century, the US government experimented on poor Black men in Tuskegee, Alabama, to understand the life-cycle of syphilis; the men were coerced into remaining in their study for decades despite the fact that the disease’s cure, penicillin, had been discovered.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Inspired by a real-life Northern Bank robbery, No Ordinary Heist centers on two feuding bank employees who are coerced into perpetrating Ireland‘s biggest bank heist after their families are kidnapped.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligated. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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