OBLIGATED Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

obligated 1 of 2

adjective

as in obliged

being under obligation for a favor or gift we have been their guests so many times that we feel obligated to return their hospitality

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obligated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of obligate

as in compelled

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure the problem is of your own making, so don't think that you can obligate me to help

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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 obligated

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

Verb

The mayor’s decision to stop her, the judge found, violated constitutional protections that government officials were already obligated to respect. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 The foreign customer is funding the entire amount, with the money obligated at the time of the award. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 His lawyers, making the motion for dismissal, argued that Kuznietsov was still an active duty soldier and as such was obligated by Ukrainian law not to speak for reasons of secrecy linked to national security. — Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026 The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case exploring the extent to which companies from an array of sectors are obligated to protect the privacy of customers’ video-viewing data. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Trump defended Marshall in a lengthy Truth Social post, claiming he was legally obligated to pursue the debts. — Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2026 In September 2024, activists demanded that Detroit police release bodycam footage of the shooting, which police initially said they were not obligated to release because an officer had not fired. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 This is also a new norm; other smart glasses or AI hardware companies aren’t obligated to signal this intent in the same way as Meta. — Victoria Song, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026 Doctors are expected to process a prescription within 24 – 72 hours, but are not legally obligated to. — Esha Desai, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligated

Adjective

Musically, the band is probably most indebted to post-punk, with a whiff of New Wave and electronica.

— Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
The stock has come under pressure this week as investors brace for higher interest rates that might impact the highly indebted company.

— Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of indebted

Verb

Her mother, Betsy Lopez, spoke to CBS News Sacramento in June and said she was compelled to advocate for safer streets after her daughter's death.

— Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
To read even a downmarket newspaper, especially one from the mid-twentieth century before newspapers were compelled to compete with TV, is often to be surprised at the serious-mindedness of its journalism.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of compelled

Adjective

The protests being lodged against that decision provide some comfort, and Louise would have been grateful for them.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
The 12-year run on The Big Bang Theory has to be at the top of the list of things to be grateful for.

— Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of grateful

Verb

In the southern port city of Marseille, some shops and a municipal police station were damaged, while protesters briefly forced their way into the lobby of City Hall.

— SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Performers weren’t spared either, with several forced to perform in the rain without covering for both artists and their equipment.

— Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of forced

Verb

That should come as no surprise; NASA is, after all, part of the executive branch, and the agency is obliged to abide by executive orders.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
On his way out, Council obliged Stokes’ request and let out a few barks of his own.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of obliged

Verb

Doe alleges in her lawsuit that she was coerced into using drugs before the assault.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
They were coerced into signing a non-disclosure agreement that prevented them from ever exposing the details of what happened, and at whose hands.

— Gretchen Carlson, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of coerced

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“Obligated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligated. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of obligated

adjective

verb

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