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
However, the law is useless if city officials refuse to provide the records they are legally obligated to produce.
—
John Hart, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2025
After all, creditors aren’t obligated to settle any debts.
—Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
You are not obligated to have a conversation with the police.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 9 Apr. 2025
The district is not obligated to use the full amount.
—Phil Rockrohr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligate
John Hart, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2025
After all, creditors aren’t obligated to settle any debts.
—Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
You are not obligated to have a conversation with the police.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 9 Apr. 2025
The district is not obligated to use the full amount.
—Phil Rockrohr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligate
Verb
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The Trump administration is now compelled to restore the budget.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
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Ambitious goals compel the team to think differently, encouraging boldness, innovation and smarter risk-taking.—
Ryan Brinkhurst,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The administration is threatening to withhold federal money from universities as a way to coerce many of them to comply with administration policies in ways that implicate free speech and in some instances violate legal processes for the withholding of federal support.—
Daniel Hall,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2025
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Its alliances were coerced, its innovations lagged behind, and its industrial system collapsed under its own contradictions.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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However, Barron's slender frame and short arms may force him to play as a nickel corner in the NFL.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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Companies that need these elements have been forced to buy them from other firms with existing private stockpiles, which have become more valuable in recent weeks.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Those would be similar to those in NATO’s Article 5, under which all members are obliged to assist an attacked nation.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2025
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Williams didn’t take to the mic, but many guests obliged, belting out ’80s tunes by A-ha, Mylène Farmer, Vanessa Paradis and others.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligate. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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