obligated 1 of 2

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

Relevance

obligated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of obligate

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
Far from being dead, reunions exist now in a zone of distortion, a weird gray area in which many people feel obligated to go without quite knowing why. Jordan Michelman, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025 To that point, the NFLMC is a multiemployer bargaining association that is legally obligated to share information with its members. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025 To be fair, Belichick is not obligated to share that information, especially considering that it can be used against him later on. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025 Hartig has argued she was not obligated to turn the report over, and is fighting the other claims against her, too. Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Employees also felt obligated to conform to a certain idea of femininity. Thessaly La Force, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025 As a Michigan alumnus, he’s obligated to rip all things Buckeye. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025 Winnebago County is obligated to operate the former UW-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus for the benefit of the public for the next two years. Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025 While predecessors traditionally have stepped down from the board when their time as chair ended, Powell may feel obligated to stay on and protect the Fed’s independence now that Trump is seeking to oust Cook. Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligated
Verb
  • As for me, whatever posturing impulse had compelled my attendance at the 10-year had dimmed considerably.
    Jordan Michelman, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
  • During a talk at the Hawgs Illustrated Sports Club luncheon, Yurachek laid out the reasons that have compelled UA officials to have the contract with War Memorial come to an end with no games on the horizon.
    Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Given the sharp revenue declines, narrow margins, and a heavily indebted balance sheet, the micro-cap stock appears cheap for a reason and is better left alone.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Forty-two percent of indebted parents took on debt for their children's prescriptions, and 41 percent for doctor visits.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Though Andre officially ended things with his other flame, Ashley (Jen Jacob), Dani's daughter's abduction has forced her to spend some questionable quality time with her ex-husband Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett), who, it should be noted, shares a last name with Devon Winters' birth mother Yolanda.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
  • On Sunday, Rodgers celebrated when the Steelers forced and recovered a fumble during a fourth-quarter kickoff return.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Kathy and Keith, meanwhile, are just grateful for their friendship and their time hanging out with the kids in Costa Rica.
    Kristen Baldwin September 2, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • While there were still some unanswered questions and frustrations about the lengthy project timelines, planning board members overall were grateful for the rare opportunity to have city staff representatives present, even virtually.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Then they are obliged to follow all lines of enquiry and take action as appropriate.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Kendrick Bourne - New England Patriots After being on the 53 man roster Tuesday, Bourne requested to be released by the Patriots on Wednesday and the team obliged his request.
    Mike Fore, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Now, under intense pressure from City Hall, these 11 beholden board members want to throw a school system that has endured more than its share of chaos back into the financial maelstrom.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Abusers and traffickers are exploiting this lack of oversight—leaving women coerced, deceived, and sometimes poisoned.
    Christa Brown, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Hecker said the case should be dismissed and that Abrego Garcia is being coerced into accepting a guilty plea by the prospect of being indefinitely detained in a country halfway across the world, where his safety and liberty would be at threat.
    Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obligated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligated. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on obligated

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!