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
Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2025
Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026
Ziller plans to go to the State Budget Committee on Thursday to ask for a series of payments to which the state is obligated, including $3 million for the Gary blight elimination program.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 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
And not only is the government legally obligated to allow for comments on the rule, they are also obliged to respond.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 June 2026
The motion to dismiss, filed in March, argued that Redd wasn’t contractually obligated to perform.
—Melissa Goldin, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
The motion to dismiss, filed in March, argued that Redd wasn't contractually obligated to perform.
—ABC News, 6 June 2026
The company adds that any funding would be phased over time, and that the other party is not obligated to proceed.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 3 June 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
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
Ziller plans to go to the State Budget Committee on Thursday to ask for a series of payments to which the state is obligated, including $3 million for the Gary blight elimination program.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 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
And not only is the government legally obligated to allow for comments on the rule, they are also obliged to respond.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 June 2026
The motion to dismiss, filed in March, argued that Redd wasn’t contractually obligated to perform.
—Melissa Goldin, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
The motion to dismiss, filed in March, argued that Redd wasn't contractually obligated to perform.
—ABC News, 6 June 2026
The company adds that any funding would be phased over time, and that the other party is not obligated to proceed.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligated
Adjective
-
But because higher rates generally make borrowing more expensive, costs can add up for highly indebted households or those that carrying several different types of debt.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
-
The company spun out of a heavily indebted crypto-mining venture in 2024, and has taken on billions in extra debt to finance the construction of new data centers, including the one in Norway.—
Story
by
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
If you’re compelled to give you bird a quick rinse, be sure to wash your sink and surfaces with warm, soapy water and follow with a sanitizing solution, Castellow said.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Nov. 2025
-
In the process, farmers are compelled to adopt the more expensive organic practices, but keep selling at conventional prices, all while unable as yet to label themselves organic.—
Kelly Damewood,
Fortune,
25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Give Yourself Permission to Set Boundaries Many women with metastatic breast cancer feel pressure to stay positive, grateful and inspiring.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
15 June 2026
-
Her father is now in need of surgery from an injury after part of his house landed on his leg, and is just grateful to be alive.—
Dave Savini,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
As Kate Niederhoffer and Jeffrey Hancock note in Harvard Business Review, forced AI adoption amid layoffs breeds resistance, anxiety, and plummeting morale.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
California also allows ballots, if postmarked by election day, to be accepted up to a week after polls close — though that policy may soon be forced to change depending how the Supreme Court rules on a case challenging ballots arriving after election day.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
It’s been beholden to the performance of big tech stocks like SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.—
Stan Choe,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
-
It’s been beholden to the performance of big tech stocks such as SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
And not only is the government legally obligated to allow for comments on the rule, they are also obliged to respond.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
-
The book was typeset by an Italian printer who had no English, and Lawrence felt obliged to tell him what was in the book.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Lured by the promise of well-paying jobs, hundreds of thousands of people like them have been coerced into engaging in scams such as posing as women online, cultivating intimate relationships with foreigners to defraud them of their savings.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
8 June 2026
-
Jon Burge coerced the confession.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligated. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
