as in forcing
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 obligating
The unions argue that carrying out permanent layoffs during a funding lapse violates the Antideficiency Act, which bars agencies from obligating funds without congressional authorization, and exceeds executive authority under the Administrative Procedure Act.
—
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
This document, signed by a sponsor, is a legally enforceable contract obligating the sponsor to support the immigrant and prevent them from relying on public aid.
—Daniel Shoer Roth, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The following year, legislation was passed formally designating these problems as matters of national concern and obligating local governments to implement countermeasures.
—Gil Press, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Killborn said he was told by CBS’ legal team that the segment would implicate an FCC rule obligating stations to offer comparable time to political candidates.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
This document, signed by a sponsor, is a legally enforceable contract obligating the sponsor to support the immigrant and prevent them from relying on public aid.
—Daniel Shoer Roth, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The following year, legislation was passed formally designating these problems as matters of national concern and obligating local governments to implement countermeasures.
—Gil Press, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Killborn said he was told by CBS’ legal team that the segment would implicate an FCC rule obligating stations to offer comparable time to political candidates.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligating
Verb
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The windshield on a Southwest Airlines flight cracked May 11, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Oklahoma, federal aviation officials said.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
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As the village erupts into full-scale panic, the emergency evolves into a darker mystery, forcing the cop to confront a seemingly impossible reality.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit also claims officers choked Day and slammed him against a wall, eventually coercing him into confessing to killing Irving and Garcia.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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Prior to his 2011 conviction, Jeffs was charged and convicted of being an accomplice to rape in September 2007 after coercing a 14-year-old to marry her 19-year-old cousin, though the ruling was later overturned by the Utah Supreme Court over faulty jury instructions, according to CBS News.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Her new perspective gazes at us directly, compelling us to meet her eye.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
-
For two months, Democrats have forced a series of votes aimed at compelling the Administration to either wind down the conflict or seek authorization.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The incident triggered a fire alarm, obliging the entire French delegation — some of whom were still in their pyjamas — to evacuate the building.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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In civil aerospace, for example, Rolls is benefiting as manufacturers Airbus and Boeing struggle to deliver new aircraft at the pace the market requires — obliging airlines to keep flying old planes (and their engines) for longer.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligating. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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