obligated 1 of 2

adjective

as in obliged
being under obligation for a favor or gift we have been their guests so many times that we feel obligated to return their hospitality

Synonyms & Similar Words

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obligated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of obligate
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obligated
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 school felt he was obligated to honor that deal, which prompted a lawsuit in order that attempted to bar him from transferring. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026 You indeed are obligated only to invite the neighbors back over eventually. — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2026 William has also said on several occasions that his children are free to choose their favorite team without feeling obligated to follow their father’s preferences. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 15 July 2026 Although only about 600 homes were built, the district remained obligated to purchase far more water than the community actually uses. — Nina Burns, CBS News, 14 July 2026 Members of the office said the county, including its commissions, is still obligated to meet with labor unions. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 States may choose to provide home- and community-based care (and all do) but they are not obligated to provide that care. — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Have a Conversation About Repairs While ideally a fence would be repaired as quickly as possible, especially if there is a safety concern with children or pets, Spencer says the owner is not obligated to fix it within a specific timeframe. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2026 You are not obligated to carry everyone’s emotions, Sagittarius. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligated
  1. indebted
  2. compelled
  3. grateful
  4. forced
  5. beholden
  6. obliged
  7. coerced
Adjective
  • Other pieces are more indebted to various forms of trance music found around the globe.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
  • Oligarchs pocketed the petrodollars of the late-aughts oil boom and left the nation somehow poorer and more indebted.
    — Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Definition of indebted
Verb
  • Rising costs across the produce supply chain Growing everything from strawberries to collard greens is labor intensive, and for many years, worker shortages have compelled farms to hike wages.
    — Elizabeth Canales, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
  • Nolan delivers one fantastical set piece after another to test Matt Damon’s Odysseus, while keeping the audience equally compelled by the palace intrigue back at Ithaca as Anne Hathaway’s Penelope holds off a brutish gaggle of suitors.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
Definition of compelled
Adjective
  • In an industry where workers often find jobs away from home, a homecoming after stints in Eureka and Colorado Springs was a chance Carroll’s grateful for.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • The councilmember said she’s raised over $10 million for clean-up projects across the district, and is grateful to the Hope Village team for finding ways to repurpose the land.
    — Julianna Mejia July 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Definition of grateful
Verb
  • While some businesses relying on summer traffic have been forced to temporarily close their doors, others refuse to let the smoke alter their plans.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Funding challenges have forced the closure of re-entry homes like the one at Charlotte’s McLeod Center and the shuttering of re-entry organizations like Redirection-NC as well as local reentry councils across the state.
    — Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Definition of forced
Adjective
  • That means candidates would be less beholden to special interests since no money is needed for a primary campaign.
    — Paul Haughey, Mercury News, 27 June 2026
  • To whom are public officials beholden, and who decides the rule of law?
    — Robert Parkinson, The Conversation, 24 June 2026
Definition of beholden
Verb
  • England brought on Bellingham and Elliot Anderson to try to pad the lead, and the 23-year-old Bellingham almost obliged in the 80th minute, but the shot was saved by Maignan.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Salvadoran referee Iván Barton immediately pointed to the spot and Oyarzabal stepped up and obliged, beating French keeper Mike Maignan into the side netting at the right post for his fifth goal of the tournament.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of obliged
Verb
  • Some innocents are coerced into false confessions, like what happened to the Central Park Five.
    — Rene Denfeld, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
  • Sinon grows up as a young man off at war that is coerced by Odysseus to sacrifice themself at the hand of the Trojans, while convincing them into accepting the wooden horse as a gift.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of coerced

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Cite this Entry

“Obligated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligated. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of obligated for Spanish Speakers

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