1
as in responsibilities
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 debts
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 obligations
These bond authorizations create obligations to repay borrowing for priorities as wide-ranging as health facilities, water infrastructure and wildfire prevention.
—
Lanhee J. Chen, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
These financial obligations can even create pressure to dismiss fair settlement offers in search of larger returns for investors.
—Jaime Huff, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
And all the forecasts, including the CBO’s, conclude that such an outcome leads to unsustainable debts, deficits, and especially ballooning interest expense leaving less and less money to fund our fast growing obligations for the likes of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Learn without deploying large amounts of capital or locking yourself into long term obligations.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Despite facing many of the same challenges, Illinois has not responded, playing defense as governments face budget-busting pension debts and long-term obligations.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Unionized workers claim management failed legal obligations to bargain over closures.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Some praised their district for making the safe decision, while others lamented the difficulty for working parents to balance school schedules and job obligations with last-minute changes.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
This is in stark contrast to President Joe Biden’s approach, which was to forgive billions in outstanding obligations as a means of buying political support.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
Lanhee J. Chen, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
These financial obligations can even create pressure to dismiss fair settlement offers in search of larger returns for investors.
—Jaime Huff, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
And all the forecasts, including the CBO’s, conclude that such an outcome leads to unsustainable debts, deficits, and especially ballooning interest expense leaving less and less money to fund our fast growing obligations for the likes of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Learn without deploying large amounts of capital or locking yourself into long term obligations.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Despite facing many of the same challenges, Illinois has not responded, playing defense as governments face budget-busting pension debts and long-term obligations.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Unionized workers claim management failed legal obligations to bargain over closures.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Some praised their district for making the safe decision, while others lamented the difficulty for working parents to balance school schedules and job obligations with last-minute changes.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
This is in stark contrast to President Joe Biden’s approach, which was to forgive billions in outstanding obligations as a means of buying political support.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligations
Noun
-
Maybe weekly status updates are inconsistent, decisions get delayed because of unclear responsibilities or communication across departments stalls because of missing context.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The hiring process, a collaborative effort with Posey, general manager Zack Minasian and the rest of the front office, has acted as another sort of crash course on the responsibilities of an MLB manager.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The defense suggested William McGuire, who prosecutors said had gambling debts, may have been killed by someone else.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
And all the forecasts, including the CBO’s, conclude that such an outcome leads to unsustainable debts, deficits, and especially ballooning interest expense leaving less and less money to fund our fast growing obligations for the likes of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Augmentation pulls teachers, case managers, and maintenance workers away from their core duties, eroding programs intended to reduce recidivism and maintain humane conditions.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The appeals court, however, said staying the injunction serves the public interest by preventing federal agents from hesitating while carrying out lawful duties.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the 1990s, Norton played a key role in ending the city’s financial crisis by brokering a deal to transfer billions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities to the federal government in exchange for changes to the district’s budget.—
Matt Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In a typical acquisition, the buyer conducts extensive due diligence to understand the target company’s financial performance, contracts, liabilities, intellectual property, customer concentration, employee matters, and more.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The vehicles can also be built to be recoverable in support of ever-changing mission needs.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
-
And, though able to navigate a great deal of the daily routine, Anna has gaps that will widen as her parents’ needs become more demanding.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Calls for a global wealth tax, massive new aid commitments, or other significant expansions of state redistribution often rest on the premise that trade and free enterprise have failed to deliver shared gains.—
Chelsea Follett,
Oc Register,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Ballot budgeting The second complicating factor in California’s budget process is the amount of money tied up in spending commitments over which policymakers have little discretion.—
Lanhee J. Chen,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligations. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
