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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 obligation
Politicians have a special obligation, by virtue of their outsize public platforms, to remove contempt from political discourse.
—
Timothy Shriver, Twin Cities, 14 May 2025
The same Lara who, in that Saturday Zoom, heard homeowners plead with him not to award a rate increase until his department investigated whether State Farm was meeting its legal obligations in handling the claims of policyholders.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
The Heat, by making the playoffs, wound up at No. 15 in the draft order, with that selection now belonging to the Oklahoma City Thunder, to complete a previous trade obligation.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025
Of course, commercial companies like ULA have no obligation to broadcast their launches at all, and there's no requirement for Amazon to show pictures of its satellites.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligation
Timothy Shriver, Twin Cities, 14 May 2025
The same Lara who, in that Saturday Zoom, heard homeowners plead with him not to award a rate increase until his department investigated whether State Farm was meeting its legal obligations in handling the claims of policyholders.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
The Heat, by making the playoffs, wound up at No. 15 in the draft order, with that selection now belonging to the Oklahoma City Thunder, to complete a previous trade obligation.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025
Of course, commercial companies like ULA have no obligation to broadcast their launches at all, and there's no requirement for Amazon to show pictures of its satellites.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligation
Noun
-
Holden’s official duties took him out into the community doing public relations for the Army Air Forces.—
Richard Selcer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 May 2025
-
Throughout season 8, Gamble had struggled to reconcile her duties as an officer with her family's deep criminal history — her father's legacy as the murderer of an L.A. sheriff didn't do her any favors on the force.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
Then, in a flurry of new moves in early May, officials sought to offset the impact of the Trump's tariffs, which threatened to further trouble an economy already beset by a property crisis, falling consumer demand and a high level of local government debt.—
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
-
Moreover, $14 trillion in U.S. debt maturing soon will be refinanced — likely at higher rates, noted CNBC.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
The pain of loss and the pain of (some) responsibility for ending a Cup run must be overwhelming.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
-
Your routines, responsibilities, employment or health could have all budded happily.—
Kyle Thomas,
People.com,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
Some said the murders highlighted the need for more nuanced discussions about antisemitism in the United States and the ongoing Israeli Palestinian conflict.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
-
Vietnamese manufacturers attending the event told Sourcing Journal about their fears that global brands would pressure them to shoulder the costs of tariff impacts, while underlining the need to protect workers as the apparel industry in Vietnam employs more than three million people.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
His personal journey fuels his commitment to guiding families through the intricate landscape of financial tools and benefits available to support individuals with special needs.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
-
Sports content is expected to remain the dominant force in securing advertiser commitments during Upfronts this year, despite growing economic uncertainty.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligation. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share