as in compelled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obligated
Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2025
Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The Unified Government is not obligated to make debt service payments on the bonds, according to board documents.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2026
Chief Communications Officer Jan Ivey said the club conducted a research project with UNC Charlotte and felt obligated to act on the findings.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
School leaders are not obligated to punish students for walking out.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
Unlike early decision, which requires immediate commitment to a school if accepted, students who apply early action are not obligated to enroll if accepted via this action.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Frontline managers who feel obligated to second-guess strategy.
—Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2026
You are not obligated to disclose personal details at work.
—Essence, 26 Jan. 2026
But again, what this is, is these are very diverse communities, and these people feel like they are obligated to put their lives on the line to protect their neighbors.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The spokesperson did not respond to specific questions including what the legal basis would be for rescinding obligated funding.
—Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Pistons are young and exceeding expectations for the second straight season, so there’s a desire to find the ceiling of this group without feeling obligated to shake up the core.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The Unified Government is not obligated to make debt service payments on the bonds, according to board documents.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2026
Chief Communications Officer Jan Ivey said the club conducted a research project with UNC Charlotte and felt obligated to act on the findings.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
School leaders are not obligated to punish students for walking out.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
Unlike early decision, which requires immediate commitment to a school if accepted, students who apply early action are not obligated to enroll if accepted via this action.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Frontline managers who feel obligated to second-guess strategy.
—Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2026
You are not obligated to disclose personal details at work.
—Essence, 26 Jan. 2026
But again, what this is, is these are very diverse communities, and these people feel like they are obligated to put their lives on the line to protect their neighbors.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligated
Verb
-
We are compelled, from the indirect astrophysical evidence and the high-quality null results from direct detection efforts, to consider it seriously.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The Frist felt compelled to spotlight one more Nashville women artist as part of its 25th anniversary celebration.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Thank you so much and again, myself, my teammates are forever indebted to you guys.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
-
When one friend is habitually the payer, others may feel grateful, indebted, infantilized or even relieved.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But without any leads nor money to return back to her comfortable life in India, Mehr is forced to work as a housemaid for these eccentric artists Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Choreographed to perfection, yet not in a way that felt forced in the slightest, Bono and company distilled their brilliant Elevation Tour into a spellbinding three-song set that found the band performing while names of terrorist victims were shown on the big screen.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Atwood is grateful for her certification and is now envisioning brighter and better days.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In some sense, there’s a palpable disgust that this community has responded not by cowering, not by submitting, not by being grateful for this sort of armed invasion that is meant to stress everyone out, but by trying to foil it.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The aristocrat obliged and ordered the construction of the Duomo.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The last time Alexander had been on the show, Colbert obliged, handing him a tub of pickles to bring to his father.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But Netanyahu was beholden for his political future to the radical minority that supported it, and constantly catered to their whims.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Yet there’s another genre to which Hill was and continued to be equally beholden, and that’s the Hollywood musical.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Russia’s Defense and Foreign Ministries have not responded to CNN’s request for comment on allegations that some recruits were misled or coerced.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Butt maintains his innocence, claiming his confession was coerced through torture, and that evidence against him was planted, The Daily Telegraph reported.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligated. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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