obliged 1 of 2

1
as in obligated
being under obligation for a favor or gift my new neighbor gave me a Christmas present, and now I feel obliged to reciprocate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

obliged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of oblige

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 obliged
Verb
This tweak doubles the amount of time a player is obliged to wait on the sidelines from 30 seconds to one minute. Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 There’s also a June 4 deadline for the expiration of a deal, with Paramount obliged to pay a $7 billion termination fee. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026 Like most neighborhood kids, Wang was obliged to help with household chores after class, especially churning soymilk by endlessly hauling his uncle’s giant stone mill around. Charlie Campbell, Time, 18 Aug. 2026 Grandparents transfer cultural values and practical wisdom to other family members, while younger family members are obliged to take care of their elders as time goes by. Kaitlyn Gomez, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026 Smotrich says the ultra-Orthodox should be obliged to serve, but that arresting them would create division. Reuters, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026 What changes from one announcement to the next is who is obliged to deliver it. Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Rollins obliged, leaving his Shield mask in the middle of the ring. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The Development Authority of Fulton County, also known as Develop Fulton, obliged during its Tuesday meeting, unanimously providing preliminary approval for the incentive. Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliged
Adjective
  • The spokesperson did not respond to specific questions including what the legal basis would be for rescinding obligated funding.
    Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • So thankful to Alabama Athletics for refuting it on my behalf.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • His friends remember him as a thankful man eager to serve others.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Their remarks earned cheers and applause, which delighted Demos.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The videos have delighted audiences to such a degree that the content creator says his days toiling outside are decidedly in the past.
    Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • With her new job starting Monday, Argyriou and her family felt compelled to get on the road.
    Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Their scouting evaluation, comprehensive enough to unearth the aptitude beneath that bushy head of hair, compelled the team to select Bredeson in the fifth round of the 2026 draft.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Residents, even those appreciative for Congresswoman Frederica Wilson’s 15-year tenure, are ready for a change.
    Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Kansas City’s starting goalkeeper, Lorena, has been appreciative of finding community in the city for her wife and their 12-year-old son.
    PJ Green July 24, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • Alicent will not be pleased by the death of her innocent daughter.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Jim was, however, pleased to see that Citi thinks Azure is doing well.
    Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • The plant, which has not been identified for security reasons, was forced to close for four days because of the infiltration, the report said.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Within a mind-spinning eight months, Zori Timeless Hotel was born, cleverly converted from the old pension into four luxurious residences within the confines of strict planning regulations that forced them to use the existing space.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Some grateful recipients living in Portage and the surrounding township said their power had recently come back on but had little food left.
    Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Harper arrived at Bates College in Maine in 2020 as an idealistic new PhD in comparative literature, grateful for the tenure-track job that promised him that rarest of prizes these days — a career in the humanities.
    Gary Rosen, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Obliged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliged. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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