as in to compel
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 obligate
While players have the right to insist on being in uniform on game nights, coaches are not obligated to offer minutes.
—
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2025
For journalists, already professionally obligated to be skeptical, that mistrust has to extend to potential sources.
—Ashley Abramson, Allure, 22 Jan. 2025
However, other countries are not obligated to accept the name change.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Section 117 of the Higher Education Act obligates schools to report foreign gifts above specific thresholds to the Department of Education.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for obligate 
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2025
For journalists, already professionally obligated to be skeptical, that mistrust has to extend to potential sources.
—Ashley Abramson, Allure, 22 Jan. 2025
However, other countries are not obligated to accept the name change.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Section 117 of the Higher Education Act obligates schools to report foreign gifts above specific thresholds to the Department of Education.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for obligate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligate
Verb
-
The offers have been enticing enough to compel at least half of Solaris owners to sell over the past two years, according to property records.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2025
-
If one is compelled to inextricably correlate the art and the artist, there are any number of reasons for viewers to avoid new work from Mel Gibson.—
Todd Gilchrist,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
But a divided panel of appeals court judges said the parents hadn’t shown that they or their children had been coerced to believe or act contrary to their religious views.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA TODAY,
17 Jan. 2025
-
In early 2018, the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled that Samuels had coerced McCool into letting the deputy sheriff search his apartment and vacated the convictions.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The human dancing videos and the cat dancing videos on TikTok have nothing on the dancing by politicians who voted for the law forcing its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to either sell the popular and addictive app or face a shutdown in this country.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Expect ample debates over social media moderation and the future of TikTok after the Supreme Court on Friday backed a law forcing the app’s owner, ByteDance, to sell it to a non-Chinese owner or face a ban in the United States.—
Lauren Hirsch,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Everyone obliged—including Joe Biden and, by the end of the song, Kamala Harris.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2025
-
After missing a 55-yard attempt earlier in the quarter, Fairbairn obliged this time, connecting on a 48-yarder to make it 13-6 at the break.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN,
19 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near obligate
Cite this Entry
“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligate. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share