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
Huang has felt obligated to respond to critics who warn of job losses and threats to humanity itself.
—
Josh Boak,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Musicians aren’t obligated to do anything political as part of the job, and plenty of audiences appreciate when artists don’t preach partisan points of view.
—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2026
The port’s existing agreement with the fuel yard’s operator runs through May 2027, and the new owners are obligated to let fuel sales continue under that contract.
—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2026
Analogously, the Big 12 could assert that it is obligated to take action against Texas Tech, and that failure to do so would undermine its own bylaws.
—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Josh Boak,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Musicians aren’t obligated to do anything political as part of the job, and plenty of audiences appreciate when artists don’t preach partisan points of view.
—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2026
The port’s existing agreement with the fuel yard’s operator runs through May 2027, and the new owners are obligated to let fuel sales continue under that contract.
—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2026
Analogously, the Big 12 could assert that it is obligated to take action against Texas Tech, and that failure to do so would undermine its own bylaws.
—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligate
Verb
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Graf denied a bid from Robinson's defense team to compel his former roommate and lover Lance Twiggs to testify during the preliminary hearing in July.
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Representatives of the Utah County Attorney’s Office said they were compelled to speak publicly about the case following speculation in some media outlets.
Verb
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Weger later insisted he had been coerced into making the confession.
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The decentralized group, created by 15-year-old Bradley Chance Cadenhead in Stephenville, targets children through social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps to coerce them into self-harm and sharing explicit content.
Verb
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In 1976, the Bicentennial followed the traumas of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal that had forced President Richard Nixon's resignation.
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An uncontained blaze in Utah’s Juab County has scorched 34 square miles, forcing the evacuation of Eureka and nearby ranches as firefighters race to shield homes amid fierce winds.
Verb
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His status as the game’s best secure, Messi lifted the trophy in a bisht that had been placed upon him — obliged to share his greatest triumph with the geopolitical forces that had brought the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time.
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Bedford Affordable would be obliged to ensure that at least 40% of the units are set aside for low-income residents, documents show.
Cite this Entry
“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligate. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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