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 Damon and Fiennes are committed to major physical transformations. Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025 Now, her free monthly vegan cooking classes at the Pacific Beach/Taylor Library are a popular program, drawing curious foodies, committed vegans, and the vegan-curious of all ages. Sierra Knoch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2025 Somehow, even with all the murder and torture Joe has committed this season, that little twist of an ankle is the scariest moment of all. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025 Florida commitment James originally committed to Florida but dropped his commitment after the firing of then-head coach Dan Mullen, only to be persuaded to return by subsequent head coach Billy Napier. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commit
Verb
  • Florida has executed Gulf War veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson for the shooting deaths of his girlfriend and her three children despite a letter from 129 veterans arguing that Hutchinson's mind was a casualty of war.
    James Powel, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • Part of the appeal was that the technique is fairly intuitive—paint the base color, then dab a textured sponge into the second color and blot—and technically, there’s no wrong way to execute it.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • President Donald Trump has pledged to conduct widespread deportations as his administration looks to remove millions of undocumented immigrants.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
  • After years of hefty borrowing and financial decisions that have strained public services, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, has pledged to be more financially responsible with its taxpayers’ dollars.
    Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Prosecutors accused Read of striking O’Keefe with her SUV then leaving him to die in the snow.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Visas for Pakistani citizens were limited, many Pakistanis were given a deadline to leave the country, diplomatic ties were downgraded, a land border between the two was shut down, and Pakistani military advisers were expelled from the New Delhi mission.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • From elsewhere The immigrant families jailed in Texas [New Yorker] My former colleague Jack Herrera reports that under the Trump administration, ICE is jailing families who have lived in the U.S. for years and is sending them to Texas.
    Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Under the new Trump Administration, ICE is jailing not just families encountered at the border but also families who have been here for years.
    Jack Herrera, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At a suitable moment, the charger performs a USB PD Data Role (DR) Swap.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2025
  • With the results of this simulation capability, farmers would be able to predict which specific plant varieties will perform best in their fields and quickly determine the best solutions when faced with challenges such as extreme weather.
    Matt Alderton, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This year, the US military has deployed an anti-ship missile launcher for the first time on the northern tip of the Philippine archipelago, just across the strait from Taiwan, a self-governing democracy Beijing has vowed to take by force if necessary.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Despite the opposition, Lawler has vowed to hold live town halls in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, rejecting the advice of GOP leadership to skip the public meetings that have been lightning rods for raucous criticism of Trump’s controversial agenda.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Now, she's being handed the reins to replace the network's biggest star amid dangerous political territory for Democrats, who lack majorities in both chambers of Congress and have faced an identity crisis since November, when former Vice President Kamala Harris lost to Trump.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Their future is handed to a judge with limited time, minimal context and little understanding of their family, finances or goals.
    David Centeno, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The government has been accused of imprisoning political dissidents, reporters and religious leaders, with thousands leaving the country in the process.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Currently, more than 1,500 people are imprisoned on political grounds in Russia, according to a tally by OVD-Info, with Moscow’s crackdown on dissent escalating since the war began.
    Mariya Knight, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commit. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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