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
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Recent Examples of obligate
However, the law is useless if city officials refuse to provide the records they are legally obligated to produce.
—
John Hart, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2025
After all, creditors aren’t obligated to settle any debts.
—Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
You are not obligated to have a conversation with the police.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 9 Apr. 2025
The district is not obligated to use the full amount.
—Phil Rockrohr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligate
John Hart, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2025
After all, creditors aren’t obligated to settle any debts.
—Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
You are not obligated to have a conversation with the police.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 9 Apr. 2025
The district is not obligated to use the full amount.
—Phil Rockrohr, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligate
Verb
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Do judges have the power to compel the administration to change its behavior?—
Patrick Reis,
Vox,
16 Apr. 2025
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Cabinet members and other White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, claimed Monday morning that the ruling had actually been in the administration's favor and did not compel them to bring back Abrego Garcia.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The administration is threatening to withhold federal money from universities as a way to coerce many of them to comply with administration policies in ways that implicate free speech and in some instances violate legal processes for the withholding of federal support.—
Daniel Hall,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2025
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Its alliances were coerced, its innovations lagged behind, and its industrial system collapsed under its own contradictions.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Five years after the pandemic forced children into remote instruction, two-thirds of U.S. fourth graders still cannot read at grade level.—
K. Dara Hill,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2025
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Such environments can force the plane downward, disrupt its ability to climb, or reduce lift on the wings, according to aviation experts.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Those would be similar to those in NATO’s Article 5, under which all members are obliged to assist an attacked nation.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2025
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Williams didn’t take to the mic, but many guests obliged, belting out ’80s tunes by A-ha, Mylène Farmer, Vanessa Paradis and others.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligate. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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