OBLIGATE Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

obligate

verb

ˈä-blə-ˌgāt

Definition of obligate

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 This means structured challenge processes, anonymous concern-raising channels and explicit mandates that directors are obligated to question strategy regardless of personal loyalty to the chair or the CEO. — Albana Vrioni, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026 We are obligated to assist all of those who are harmed in those incidents. — CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026 The United States is obligated by law to provide Taiwan with sufficient hardware to deter any armed attack from the mainland. — Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026 Investors will pay close attention to SCA commentary as a window into a portion of future revenues that customers are contractually obligated to pay regardless of market conditions. — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obligate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligate

Verb

Unlike The Traitors, the gameplay does not compel them to form alliances, as the teams are fixed.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
East of Eden probably came your way shortly thereafter, so what factors compelled you to leave home for New Zealand?

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of compel

Verb

This was a back-door effort to coerce Detroit to phase out the internal combustion engine, as the only realistic way car makers could meet the requirement was to massively expand their EV or hybrid inventories.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
This hasn’t stopped the Administration from trying to coerce states to hand over their voter rolls.

— Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of coerce

Verb

The companies and economies that endure will be the ones that can balance growth, resilience and sustainability—and change before outside pressure forces them to.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Doe alleged the defendants snorted ketamine off her body and forced her to do the same off theirs.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of force

Verb

Text messages indicate Moore’s representative had initiated the process of retrieving his belongings in the hours after his arrest, and the school was quick to oblige.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026
The reader takes on the role of a defendant in an HR investigation, obliged to absorb every detail.

— Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of oblige

Browse Nearby Words

oblations

obligate

obligated

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligate. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of obligate

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Luddite

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes