as in friendly
willing to do a favor
an obliging concierge used her pull to get us reservations at the town's hottest restaurant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in accommodating
to do a service or favor for
I would appreciate it greatly if you could oblige me by bringing a dessert to the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in coercing
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
I know you're in a hurry, but you can't oblige me to drive any faster than the speed limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of obliging
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
Texas coach Sean Miller wanted better defense, and the Horns are obliging.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 8 Dec. 2025
Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The article is the key mutual defense clause, obliging all member countries to come to the aid of another member whose sovereignty or territorial integrity might be under threat.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obliging
Adjective
Watson, who’s been transparent about his approach to a contract year, is happily obliging.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
Texas coach Sean Miller wanted better defense, and the Horns are obliging.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 8 Dec. 2025
Verb
Black has sometimes driven for miles to a particular cemetery only to find a funeral under way, obliging him to leave empty-handed.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The article is the key mutual defense clause, obliging all member countries to come to the aid of another member whose sovereignty or territorial integrity might be under threat.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obliging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliging
Adjective
-
As a 5-footer, my favorite part is that the pants are available in a petite-friendly inseam, along with four other inseam options, limiting the need for alterations.—
Melony Forcier,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Harlem Wizards are a high-energy basketball team known for combining athleticism, comedy, and crowd engagement in an entertaining, family-friendly game.—
Stephanie Ogilvie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Refreshers can be ordered in both still and sparkling versions, accommodating afternoons that could use a bit of effervescence.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Tedros said the evacuation zone also includes a Health Ministry complex where five shelters are accommodating more than 5,000 people.—
Jennifer Hansler,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Indonesia responded the following day by coercing the UDT and APODETI, among others, into issuing and signing the Balibo Declaration, which proclaimed the integration of East Timor into Indonesia.—
Agathe Demarolle,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, publicly acknowledged discussions between the two governments last week and pledged a series of reforms aimed at appeasing Washington, a concession that indicated both the urgency of the domestic crisis and the vulnerability of the regime.—
Sarah Fitzpatrick,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
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But then appeasing tradition and upending it both at once, which certainly is the pragmatic philosophy of Lyric, always is a tricky matter.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Grand Prairie in 2020, a natural gas leak ignited under a roadway, resulting in a fireball and forcing nearby evacuations.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Higher oil prices are straining import-dependent economies, while currency volatility is forcing some central banks to intervene more actively in foreign exchange markets, said market watchers.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Williams is described by Fort Worth ISD as a school improvement leader who has a long history of creating academic growth, assisting principals and creating education systems across a number of different campuses.—
Samuel O’Neal
April 16,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Firefighters from the Riverside and Ontario fire departments were also assisting with the firefight.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On March 17, the House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to Bondi, compelling her to sit for a deposition about the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files on April 14.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Justice Department initially said that its release, made in response to a law passed by Congress compelling the agency to disclose nearly all files related to Epstein, comprised more than 3 million pages.—
Elliott Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her response only fueled the trend further, delighting fans who were already treating her as an unofficial icon of success.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The ball circled the rim twice before dropping on Friday night, delighting Duke and its fans and crushing LSU.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliging. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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