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 All three suspects, including Nasser, were charged with conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and having firearms that would be used to commit an act of terrorism on behalf of ISIS. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025 In response, Taiwan has committed more than $32 billion through 2030 to strengthen its energy independence. John Kerry, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025 These events also allow families who can’t join on weekday mornings to experience what the bike bus is all about before committing to a regular schedule. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025 Either commit to it properly or kill it entirely. Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commit
Verb
  • Mamdani will face high expectations and even higher barriers to executing an agenda that includes enormous bureaucratic, political, and logistic hurdles.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • To the credit of general manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers identified a piece and executed a deal ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline despite limiting factors.
    Daniel Popper, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • He was released after a few weeks in jail when filmmaker Jen Gatien pledged her $2 million Manhattan apartment where the combat veteran was living as collateral for a bond.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Lai has pledged to increase military spending to 5% of GDP by 2030, strengthening the island’s defenses in the face of a rising threat from its giant neighbor China.
    Reuters, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Even leaving these facts aside, neither the doctrinaire socialism nor militant Islam have ever improved any place on earth, and New York City will not be the first.
    Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • To keep her safe Hekate’s mother leaves her in the underworld with the goddess Styx and Hades.
    Amber McBride, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, arrives at court as lawyers push to persuade the judge overseeing his fraud case not to jail him ahead of trial, at a courthouse in New York, August 11, 2023.
    Dawn Giel,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Davis later violated the terms of his sentence and was jailed for the remainder of it.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Jones wants to be aggressive and trading for a player like Fitzpatrick would help the team accomplish that goal.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Let that mutual betterment lead to approaches, initiatives and outcomes that neither of you could accomplish alone.
    Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Both candidates have bemoaned the state's high cost of living and surging energy prices, with Ciattarelli vowing to lower New Jersey's high property taxes and Sherrill promising to freeze electricity bills.
    Joe Hernandez, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Advertisement Mamdani’s political success is largely credited to a media-savvy campaign that centered affordability in one of the world’s most expensive cities, with Mamdani vowing to levy New York’s ultra-rich to pay for childcare, transportation, and even grocery stores.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Finally, there’s the fact that the Blazers are handing him the gig, with Clingan playing 30 minutes in the opener against Minnesota.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • With 43 seconds on the clock and a timeout in his back pocket, Albin chose the conservative route, handing the ball off twice and forgoing a Hail Mary to send the game to the half knotted up.
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some years after defeating Ganon, Link and Zelda stumble across an underground tomb where the decrepit corpse of the villain’s human form, Ganondorf (played again by Critical Role’s Matt Mercer), is imprisoned.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Starring Daniel Chen and based on Chen’s life, Bad Boy tells the story of Dean, who is imprisoned in a cruel juvenile detention facility.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commit. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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