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 Weeks later, Kao told his team Collins committed to getting the company $32 million in naval contracts. — Katie Nixdorf, ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2026 Everyone knows Israel has been committing genocide and ethnic cleansing, and the entire world and the American people will not stay silent. — Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, Craig has yet to throw a touchdown against a Power Four defense while committing three turnovers against UCF and North Carolina. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2026 Additionally, the automaker has committed to continuing to build traditional V-8 and V-12 engines until the latter of those dates. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for commit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for commit

Verb

Hospital staff were working to save Pike's life and as of late Thursday were trying to clear the two doses of the drug that the state uses to execute prisoners, her lawyers wrote in a Friday filing in Davidson County Chancery Court.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Pike, who was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, was set to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years.

— Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of execute

Verb

Led by the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front, the militias of Ethiopia’s largest regions of Amhara and Oromia have also pledged their support.

— Cameron Hudson, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
The Country Music Association and Belmont have pledged to make a donation from proceeds from the show to Parton’s Imagination Library.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of pledge

Verb

Jim Woolery was a dealmaker at the white-shoe law firm Cravath before leaving to run M&A at JPMorgan.

— Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
If a client’s business looks the same six months after an engagement ends, or if the gains fade the moment the vendor leaves, that was delivery.

— Vikas Verma, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of leave

Verb

But unlike other Floridians of Cuban descent — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio — Valdes ended up defending Cuba’s socialist revolutionaries and officials who have killed, jailed, tortured, and censored numerous political enemies.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
The hanged man, John Morgan, had been jailed, tried for murder, and convicted, before escaping jail, getting apprehended, and being executed—all in ten days, Mellinger said.

— Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of jail

Verb

Now, having accomplished the feat at such a young age, Lamine Yamal is poised to cash in for years to come.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
The rise and fall of Joe Cool, the Camel cigarette advertising gimmick that launched a thousand teen smokers, was accomplished with a more top-down approach.

— Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of accomplish

Verb

Caputo vowed to prevent such pitfalls, with intelligence and financial oversight agencies helping to vet applicants' identities, criminal records and sources of funds.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Actor Mark Ruffalo, one of the deal’s most strident critics, has vowed to continue the fight.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of vow

Verb

The twist is, the would-be brides and grooms must hand total control of their love lives to their families.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
One day earlier, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget granted $20 million to CBP before the money was handed to the advertising agency.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of hand

Verb

The revolution has been crushed, tens of thousands remain imprisoned, and economic hardship has broken the backs of Egyptians.

— Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
The Other Side of the Sun is based on the experiences of its director Sabouni, who was imprisoned there, as well as four other former inmates who survived.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of imprison

Cite this Entry

Style

“Commit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commit. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of commit

verb

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