OBLIGED Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

obliged 1 of 2

adjective

as in obligated

being under obligation for a favor or gift my new neighbor gave me a Christmas present, and now I feel obliged to reciprocate

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as in thankful

feeling or expressing gratitude I'd be much obliged if you could do me this favor

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

obliged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of oblige

as in delighted

to do a service or favor for I would appreciate it greatly if you could oblige me by bringing a dessert to the party

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in compelled

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure I know you're in a hurry, but you can't oblige me to drive any faster than the speed limit

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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 obliged

Verb

Returning to the table, Walzer said that a legal scholar had recently used the jus ex bello doctrine in an op-ed to argue that the war had become so costly to Ukrainians that their government was now obliged to make concessions to stop the fighting. — Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026 That should come as no surprise; NASA is, after all, part of the executive branch, and the agency is obliged to abide by executive orders. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026 On his way out, Council obliged Stokes’ request and let out a few barks of his own. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 Apparently, Turner wasn’t keen on working with Douglas again, but was contractually obliged to make the film. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 2 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 An employee may feel obliged to listen, reassure or reciprocate even when uncomfortable. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 However, underwriters will remain obliged to purchase all of the shares offered. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026 Following the first of his three touchdowns against Ole Miss, Baugh obliged, striking the familiar one-legged pose in a corner of the south end zone at the Swamp. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliged

Adjective

The spokesperson did not respond to specific questions including what the legal basis would be for rescinding obligated funding.

— Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2025

Definition of obligated

Adjective

The cousin was thankful, but the Rev got the message that the family didn’t need financial help.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Because in post-Covid times distributors and exhibitors were thankful enough to even hit $8 billion in North America.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of thankful

Verb

Those would prove to be the final points the Jayhawks’ offense produced in a 35-24 loss to the Wildcats, a result that delighted the K-State faithful who had booed Edwards during the contest.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
And his fight against Black housing development in Newark’s North Ward delighted many of his neighbors.

— Mark Krasovic, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of delighted

Verb

Doncic said there has always been something in him that compelled him to establish connections with fans.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
From the classic ‘Whodunit’ style to thrilling neonoirs, mystery novels have compelled readers to solve cases alongside detectives like Hercule Poirot.

— Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of compelled

Adjective

Instead, captain Jared Spurgeon took the team’s new military-style helmet, complete with night-vision goggles attached, and delivered it to an appreciative Lorenz.

— Michael Russo, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
The filmmaker was showered with love and adoration by appreciative fans.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of appreciative

Verb

After a multi-year hiatus from the show, Burgess pleased the judges with her first routine with Cameron.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2026
The manner in which Marcos Llorente’s opener for Atletico transpired would not have pleased Andoni Iraola, even if the Spaniard needs time for his team to understand his out-of-possession demands.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of pleased

Verb

Earlier this fall, a deadlocked jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder case forced the judge to declare a mistrial.

— Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
CoreWeave, the biggest of the group, has seen the spread on its credit default swaps soar past 11%, as investors are forced to pay up for insurance against default.

— Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of forced

Adjective

On Monday morning, Sundin was grateful the church building avoided major structural damage, because the vehicle narrowly missed a column.

— Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was grateful to the first lady.

— BEN FINLEY, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of grateful

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oblige

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“Obliged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliged. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of obliged

adjective

verb

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