obligation

noun

ˌä-blə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce obligation (audio)
Definition of obligationnext
1
as in duty
something one must do because of prior agreement their financial obligations keep them from giving to charities as much as they would like

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in debt
something (as money) which is owed I have to pay off my current obligations before I can buy a new car

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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 obligation And, even with the steep payments and record stock market returns, CalPERS as of June 30 had just 85% of the funds needed to meet the future pension obligations workers have already earned. — Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 But Levon Helm Studios has obligations to its ticketholders, artists, and employees, and those obligations weren’t being met. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 Collateralized loan obligations, or CLOs, are securitized pools of floating-rate loans to businesses. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026 Government modernization often means rebuilding critical infrastructure while maintaining compliance obligations, accessibility requirements, statutory deadlines, and uninterrupted service delivery. — William Jones, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obligation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligation
  1. duty
  2. debt
  3. responsibility
  4. need
  5. commitment
Noun
  • Local manufacturing could eventually lower vehicle prices by avoiding import duties while stimulating investment in charging infrastructure, component manufacturing and battery production.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Whether winning us over with her glamorous red carpet-ready style or inspiring us with chic off-duty outfits, Gerber has developed a distinct point of view that is truly noteworthy.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of duty
Noun
  • That structure could help OpenAI secure large amounts of debt.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Nvidia had put as much as $2 billion into xAI in 2025 by way of a financing that included equity and debt in a special purpose vehicle designed to buy its processors for xAI’s massive computing project, Bloomberg reported at the time.
    — Lynn Doan, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of debt
Noun
  • Payton has talked routinely in camp about Coleman being further along than other first-year backs in his ability to grasp pass-protection responsibilities.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Wilson Tamfuh, a public and international law professor at the University of Dschang in West Cameroon, said the country has institutions that can keep the government running when the president delegates responsibilities.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • The Ravens, however, have consistently supported Loop and downplayed the need to bring in another kicker.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Guests with specific needs can coordinate directly with the front desk, which will handle any request with genuine care.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of need
Noun
  • The result is a style that moves effortlessly from morning to night, through work and any commitments after.
    — Talia Abbas, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The incident was due to an engineering failure aboard the warship, the US 7th Fleet said in a statement to CNN, another setback as concerns mount over the heavy strain on the US Navy due to the Iran war and global commitments.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of commitment

Browse Nearby Words

obligating
obligation
obligations
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Cite this Entry

“Obligation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligation. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on obligation

Nglish: Translation of obligation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obligation

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