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 Most organizations chose not to measure biases in the employee journey, because measuring it would obligate them to do something, and doing something is expensive and uncomfortable and tends to involve looking inwards at the risk of legal action. — Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The Montreux Convention obligates Turkey to allow commercial ships freedom of passage, but allows the country to charge for some specific things, including sanitary, pilotage, towage and lighthouse services. — Joanne Stocker, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Meanwhile, Miami Planning Director David Snow told commissioners, the city has been obligated to approve dozens of Live Local projects, though only two are under construction. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 Have a Conversation About Repairs While ideally a fence would be repaired as quickly as possible, especially if there is a safety concern with children or pets, Spencer says the owner is not obligated to fix it within a specific timeframe. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obligate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligate

Verb

Detective Joshua Hylton was granted a geofence warrant that compelled Google to search its database and identify every cellphone in a 17½-acre area around the bank, including private residences and a church, for a period of two hours.

— Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
The Current building the stadium, of course, helped compel the expansion that opened in May with a stop that is about a five-minute walk from the stadium.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026

Definition of compel

Verb

Enterprises that route requests between multiple models can be coerced into selecting the weakest route.

— Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
What’s not clear is whether the department will eventually use its muscle to coerce builders, suppliers, and property owners into upgrading their sheds and fielding them more sparingly.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 24 June 2026

Definition of coerce

Verb

But when the opposition are obliged to come forward and make the running, Argentina are too content to sit deep.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Putin has said that a final peace deal must oblige Ukraine to abandon its bid to join NATO, reduce its military and protect Russian language and culture.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of obligate

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on obligate

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes