as in to compel
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
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Recent Examples of obligate
Around the horn • The $22 million the Yankees are obligated to pay DJ LeMahieu makes a rental such as Arizona’s Eugenio Suárez a more logical fit for them at third base than a player such as St. Louis’ Nolan Arenado or Colorado’s Ryan McMahon, who is signed beyond 2025.
—
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 11 July 2025
In Bondi’s case, she was obligated to sell her stake within 90 days of her Senate confirmation, according to the terms of her ethics agreement with the Office of Government Ethics.
—Suhail Bhat, USA Today, 11 July 2025
However, a driver is not legally obligated to submit to a field sobriety test, pre-arrest test or cheek swab at a DUI checkpoint, according to the Law Offices of Grech and Parker in Riverside.
Field sobriety tests are subjective and may not accurately measure sobriety, according to Bee archives.
—Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2025
Serving as the unofficial GM of the team founded by Marc D’Amelio, Boatright, 32, told the FS2 announcers he was obligated to play through his twisted ankle and take the lead.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 11 July 2025
In Bondi’s case, she was obligated to sell her stake within 90 days of her Senate confirmation, according to the terms of her ethics agreement with the Office of Government Ethics.
—Suhail Bhat, USA Today, 11 July 2025
However, a driver is not legally obligated to submit to a field sobriety test, pre-arrest test or cheek swab at a DUI checkpoint, according to the Law Offices of Grech and Parker in Riverside.
Field sobriety tests are subjective and may not accurately measure sobriety, according to Bee archives.
—Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2025
Serving as the unofficial GM of the team founded by Marc D’Amelio, Boatright, 32, told the FS2 announcers he was obligated to play through his twisted ankle and take the lead.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligate
Verb
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Without probable cause, Windsor could not have forced or compelled a blood test, breath test or urine test, De Bree’s memo said.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
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In season four, Mike’s control over Kingstown is threatened as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake, compelling him to confront the resulting gang war and stop them from swallowing the town.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit alleges the grant conditions coerce local governments into adopting the Trump administration's policy agenda.—
Alison Dirr,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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But, as archaeologist Sean Winter writes, also like in the US, the reality involves a lot of people coerced into laboring for the benefit of the most powerful.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Obama did much of this without Republicans forcing his hand.—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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By holding brands accountable, ESSENCE forced a cultural and commercial shift.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The contract means Netflix has first refusal on projects Meghan and Harry pitch, but are not obliged to pay them the major yearly sums dished out during the original five-year deal.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
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Now, the court seems prepared to eviscerate what’s left of the 1965 Voting Rights Act by holding that Louisiana isn’t obliged to create a second congressional district that a Black candidate might win.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligate. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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