commit

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as in to pledge
to obligate by prior agreement we were committed to finishing the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 In their statement on Sunday, Vaitla and Henry said the department had committed substantial resources to the investigation and were working with federal and regional law enforcement agencies. Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2025 Today’s official kick-off follows the signing of an accord by representatives of the European Union’s European Investment Fund (EIF) in Paris on Friday committing €25M ($28.5M) to the fund. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2025 The Little Rock, Arkansas, product committed to the Tigers on Dec. 14. Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025 Since democratization, four South Korean Presidents have been imprisoned, one committed suicide amid a corruption investigation, and three have been impeached. Charlie Campbell, Time, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for commit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commit
Verb
  • The torturous clobbering comes after Joel saves Abby from infected hordes and is coldly executed in front of his surrogate daughter, Ellie (Bella Ramsey).
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Over three days, gunmen went house to house, summarily executing civilians and opening fire in the streets, according to dozens of residents who spoke to The New York Times.
    Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In the end, the several dozen men gathered in the centuries-old house to pledge their allegiance to Shoufi's militia, whooping and singing while performing a battle version of a celebratory dance.
    Jane Arraf, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Moira is in Toronto, pledging herself to Mark Tuello’s shadow resistance and to Mayday.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The department did not say how much money is left of the total $189 billion approved.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • With few options left, Adam begins considering and concocting ways to enact vengeance, but Basem, having been down that rageful path, advises him otherwise.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • He was arrested after the warrant and was jailed from Feb. 2 to July 22, 2021, sources said.
    Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Yoon’s ouster will probably lead to a fresh rethinking of South Korea’s political system, which has seen four of its eight presidents either jailed or impeached since the nation became a democracy in 1987 after decades of authoritarian rule.
    Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But while most saw the moment as a liberating one for women, Horsell saw it as another instance of a female playing top-level sport without the necessary support to perform at her best.
    Asif Burhan, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • According to the family’s lawsuit, no medical or mental-health intake was performed at the jail, and McLemore, who was held in a windowless cell, began to fear food and water.
    Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Hill’s housing series: Trump vowed to bring down housing costs.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Mayor Adams, who dropped out of the Democratic primary this month to instead seek reelection as an independent in November, also vowed in 2022 to produce 500,000 new units over 10 years, a benchmark experts say his administration is behind on.
    Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Union leaders and journalists who criticized Bukele have also been imprisoned.
    Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • He is imprisoned in El Salvador, where he was sent with other migrants accused of being gang members.
    Albert Sun, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Kennedy, who listened and then walked arm-in-arm with Charles-Newton for the last leg of the hike, promised to look into the program and whether any funding was being impacted by the HHS-wide restructuring.
    Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The change of course from the White House came after Nvidia promised the Trump administration new U.S. investments in AI data centers, according to one of the sources.
    Bobby Allyn, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commit. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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