COMMIT Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'commit' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of commit are confide , consign , entrust , and relegate . While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody. // committed the felon to prison

Q: When can 'confide' be used instead of 'commit'?

In some situations, the words confide and commit are roughly equivalent. However, confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance. // confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

Q: When could 'consign' be used to replace 'commit'?

The meanings of consign and commit largely overlap; however, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality. // consigned the damaging notes to the fire

Q: In what contexts can 'entrust' take the place of 'commit'?

The words entrust and commit can be used in similar contexts, but entrust implies committing with trust and confidence. // the president is entrusted with broad powers

Q: Where would 'relegate' be a reasonable alternative to 'commit'?

While the synonyms relegate and commit are close in meaning, relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of. // relegated to an obscure position in the company

commit

verb

kə-ˈmit

Definition of commit

as in to execute

to carry through (as a process) to completion accused of committing a felony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to pledge

to obligate by prior agreement we were committed to finishing the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

renege

as in to leave

to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another commit only some power to each official

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to jail

to put in or as if in prison The defendant was committed to prison following the guilty verdict.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word commit distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of commit are confide, consign, entrust, and relegate. While all these words mean "to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose," commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

When can confide be used instead of commit?

In some situations, the words confide and commit are roughly equivalent. However, confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

When could consign be used to replace commit?

The meanings of consign and commit largely overlap; however, consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

In what contexts can entrust take the place of commit?

The words entrust and commit can be used in similar contexts, but entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

Where would relegate be a reasonable alternative to commit?

While the synonyms relegate and commit are close in meaning, relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

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 commit And while Haiti has committed to a handover protocol for child gang members, getting the public to accept reintegration of anyone with gang associations is likely to be challenging. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 Andrade accused Uthmeier and the foundation’s attorney of a conspiracy to commit money laundering. — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 Experimental results can help engineers identify uncertainties before committing to larger, more expensive demonstrations. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 Though their journeys have each been unique, one conviction that they mutually are committed to is a desire to do justice to the craft and the responsibility held by women who dedicate their lives to their pen. — Brianna J. Heath, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for commit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for commit

Verb

Classical computers can efficiently execute this method, but translating it into quantum circuits creates a major storage problem.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
There's no one character who came up with the idea and executed it … the existence of AI today comes down to many papers, many individual discoveries, and a whole lot of obsession.

— Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of execute

Verb

SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell is among the first to use the option, pledging one share each to more than 2 million children’s accounts.

— Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
Millions of dollars have already been pledged to the program, including $5 million in community benefits funding as part of the Royals stadium deal following an initial $1 million city seed investment.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of pledge

Verb

Composer Ghulam Mohammed died in 1968 after writing the songs, leaving Naushad to complete the background score.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
The collection launches with Seeded Natural, an unbleached, undyed fabric that leaves the cotton’s own seeds visible in the weave.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of leave

Verb

Americans in the nation's early days could be jailed for failing to repay debts — and some argue that debtors' prisons persist.

— Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Davis anti-transgender activist and school board candidate Beth Bourne was briefly jailed on trespassing charges Tuesday after her arrest outside a Sonoma high school, the Sonoma newspaper reported.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of jail

Verb

After all, the brain evidently accomplishes this task far more efficiently than transformers do.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Their fans should be more concerned with draft position than anything their teams might accomplish this season.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of accomplish

Verb

Saudi Arabia has vowed a firm response to the deadly attacks on the kingdom’s airports and oil and gas facilities by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

— Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 12 Oct. 2026
When Harmeet Dhillon took over as the new chief of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division last April, the conservative attorney vowed to radically reshape the storied unit and its mission.

— Ryan Lucas, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of vow

Verb

When asked, Beckham handed the bottles to Pierce, who noted three different types of pills in the bottle.

— Steven Mross, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Reputational risks Trump’s regulators are handing ⁠Wall Street banks major capital relief and have already clashed with Democrats when defending their policies during congressional hearings.

— Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of hand

Verb

Jair Bolsonaro is imprisoned in connection with this case, while his son has pledged to grant him amnesty as his first act in office.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
In 1824, the British lockmaker Charles Chubb challenged a burglar, who was imprisoned on a ship, to open one of his toughest locks.

— Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of imprison

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Style

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commit. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of commit

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