Synonyms of obligate

obligate

verb

ˈä-blə-ˌgāt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compel
• coerce
• force
• oblige
• constrain
• impel
• drive
• impress
• intimidate
• pressure
• make
• muscle
• blackmail
• bully
• press
• sandbag
• dragoon
• threaten
• blackjack
• twist one's arm
• browbeat
• bulldoze
• terrorize
• cow
• hector
• harass
• drag
• menace
• shame
• badger
• high-pressure
• hound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permit
• allow
• let
• induce
• satisfy
• move
• convince
• talk (into)
• argue
• persuade
• win (over)
• prevail (on or upon)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of obligate

The government has obligated $50 million for the first 12 months of work. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026

This is also a new norm; other smart glasses or AI hardware companies aren’t obligated to signal this intent in the same way as Meta. — Victoria Song, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026

Doctors are expected to process a prescription within 24 – 72 hours, but are not legally obligated to. — Esha Desai, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

This means structured challenge processes, anonymous concern-raising channels and explicit mandates that directors are obligated to question strategy regardless of personal loyalty to the chair or the CEO. — Albana Vrioni, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026