1
as in responsibilities
something one must do because of prior agreement
their financial obligations keep them from giving to charities as much as they would like
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in debts
something (as money) which is owed
I have to pay off my current obligations before I can buy a new car
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 obligations
The budget emphasizes that HUD funding is insufficient to meet rental assistance obligations.
—
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Those obligations were not met.
—Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Told through first-person narration and stylized imagery, the film charts his attempts to reconcile a criminal past with family obligations and shifting moral ground.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
States that refused to negotiate or did not meet the obligations of the agreements are often branded as pirates and accused of supporting counterfeiting and theft.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
Analysts’ worries have grown about the company’s ability to increase its revenue fast enough to meet its debt obligations.
—Tom Hudson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
In Ohio last year, Clipboard Health and Shiftkey, another matching platform, supported a bill that would reclassify gig nurses as independent contractors, removing minimum wage obligations, according to the report.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Whether your spring or upcoming summer schedule is packed with events and obligations, this dress makes picking an outfit effortless.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
What once felt like occasional obligations became structural pillars of our daily lives.
—Dr. Joseph D'orazio, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Those obligations were not met.
—Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Told through first-person narration and stylized imagery, the film charts his attempts to reconcile a criminal past with family obligations and shifting moral ground.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
States that refused to negotiate or did not meet the obligations of the agreements are often branded as pirates and accused of supporting counterfeiting and theft.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026
Analysts’ worries have grown about the company’s ability to increase its revenue fast enough to meet its debt obligations.
—Tom Hudson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
In Ohio last year, Clipboard Health and Shiftkey, another matching platform, supported a bill that would reclassify gig nurses as independent contractors, removing minimum wage obligations, according to the report.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Whether your spring or upcoming summer schedule is packed with events and obligations, this dress makes picking an outfit effortless.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
What once felt like occasional obligations became structural pillars of our daily lives.
—Dr. Joseph D'orazio, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligations
Noun
-
Sherwood struggled in that role last year and should do better with fewer responsibilities.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Its failure, especially the Republican majority in the House and Senate, to honor constitutional obligations as well as legislative and oversight responsibilities is disheartening.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Scorpio rules shared resources and mutual debts—not just financial, but emotional.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Distributing the estate After debts and taxes are paid, the court reviews the estate’s final accounting and approves the plan for distributing assets to beneficiaries and heirs according to the will.—
Nancy Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The paramilitary guard will take over security duties currently performed by conventional military forces.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Mickey Mouse was hugely popular in Germany (including personally with Hitler), but Germany imposed hefty duties on the import of foreign films after the Nazis came to power, bringing Mickey Mouse’s broad viewership to a halt.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Both liabilities are one-time, extraordinary events with unpredictable costs, stemming from legal processes outside the city’s control.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
What apparently happened, we have been told, is that her husband Tim Mynett’s assets were listed last year, but not the liabilities for those assets.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Be direct about needs, set clear boundaries, and make sure everything is understood.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Innovative, imaginative solutions that meet growth in population, business and agricultural needs.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Keep your message clear, your commitments realistic, and your follow-through tight so momentum actually builds.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Chris Olah, a co-founder of Anthropic, told me that Catholic thought has informed some of his company’s ethical commitments.—
Elias Wachtel,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligations. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
