as in compels
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 obligates
Orange County’s agreement with ICE only obligates the county to detain up to 114 people, but the county was housing, on average, 140 inmates a day in January and last week, the count hit 182.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
The federal law dating back to 1967 obligates government agencies to turn over records to the public with some exceptions.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Treating capitalism in general, and industrialization in particular, as a political project obligates Beckert to minimize the role of technology.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
In May, the city passed new rules requiring retailers with at least 76 carts to either install theft prevention mechanisms, use security deposit devices, or enter into a cart retrieval contract that obligates proactive efforts to pick up their carts.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
The recommendation only obligates actions if the parties choose to adopt it.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2025
The European Union has introduced its Cyber Resilience Act, which obligates manufacturers and retailers to keep tabs on cybersecurity throughout the lifetime of products.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
The site of the meeting is complicated as Putin faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court that obligates the 125 countries that are party to the court to arrest the Russian leader and transfer him to The Hague for trial.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2025
The Finding, issued in 2009, legally obligates the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
The federal law dating back to 1967 obligates government agencies to turn over records to the public with some exceptions.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Treating capitalism in general, and industrialization in particular, as a political project obligates Beckert to minimize the role of technology.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
In May, the city passed new rules requiring retailers with at least 76 carts to either install theft prevention mechanisms, use security deposit devices, or enter into a cart retrieval contract that obligates proactive efforts to pick up their carts.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
The recommendation only obligates actions if the parties choose to adopt it.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2025
The European Union has introduced its Cyber Resilience Act, which obligates manufacturers and retailers to keep tabs on cybersecurity throughout the lifetime of products.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
The site of the meeting is complicated as Putin faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court that obligates the 125 countries that are party to the court to arrest the Russian leader and transfer him to The Hague for trial.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2025
The Finding, issued in 2009, legally obligates the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligates
Verb
-
This same self-centeredness compels his girlfriend (Olivia Thirlby) to move out of their modest apartment without warning.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
North Carolina requires vaccines without enforcement State law compels North Carolina school principals to require that kindergartners get seven vaccinations within 30 days of the start of the school year.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
However, the rotation of this filament clearly dominates how the galaxies within it spin, perhaps by funneling hydrogen gas along the dark-matter filament and onto the galaxies in a way that coerces their spin while providing further fuel for star formation.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Hayley obliges, perhaps too enthusiastically, prompting Yasmin to get involved in the action herself so as not to be outdone in the endless game of power play.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The senior wants the ball and Lake Travis obliges in giving it to him.—
Colby Gordon,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
That vacancy now forces Kehoe’s office to search for other candidates at a crucial time as the city prepares to host World Cup matches this summer.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Weird news or a bizarre conversation forces you to change course as Mercury and Uranus clash!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligates. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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