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
Those who sign up for military service become legally obligated to complete preset time commitments (with few exceptions for early discharge).
—
Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
That way, friends who weren’t partaking in drinks at dinner weren’t obligated to split the cost while not imbibing, and there was no awkward dance of who’s-paying-this-time, especially as some of the attendees were just meeting for the first time on the trip.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 8 July 2025
But the bill that passed Congress on Thursday would repeal the part of the 2022 law that established the green bank and rescind money that hadn’t already been obligated to its recipients.
—Michael Phillis, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Legal experts warn that compliance may violate the Fair Housing Act and that landlords are not legally obligated to respond without judicial oversight.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
That way, friends who weren’t partaking in drinks at dinner weren’t obligated to split the cost while not imbibing, and there was no awkward dance of who’s-paying-this-time, especially as some of the attendees were just meeting for the first time on the trip.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 8 July 2025
But the bill that passed Congress on Thursday would repeal the part of the 2022 law that established the green bank and rescind money that hadn’t already been obligated to its recipients.
—Michael Phillis, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Legal experts warn that compliance may violate the Fair Housing Act and that landlords are not legally obligated to respond without judicial oversight.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligate
Verb
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This fosters a competitive market where vendors are compelled to innovate on value, not by locking customers into their ecosystem.—
Rajat Bhargava,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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American filmmakers are mostly hostile to the technology, citing intellectual property theft, strained labor relations, and the environmental impact of data farms — while Chinese creatives have been compelled to embrace the speed and ease of AI for innovation.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
18 July 2025
Verb
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The attention influencers and celebrities generate fuels this model, but rest assured, checks and balances coerce cooperation.—
Solo Ceesay,
Rolling Stone,
28 July 2025
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If Messi and teammate Jordi Alba skip the event and avoid immediate sanctions, as early reporting from ESPN suggests, what is to coerce Kylian Mbappe 10 years or Lamine Yamal 20 years from now in the twilight of their careers?—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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In 2022, then-Land Commissioner George P. Bush forced Paxton into a runoff in his bid for a third term for attorney general.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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So far nothing is forcing the city to even help arrest immigrants, even if Immigration and Customs Enforcement asks. Ohio State Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) has introduced House Bill 26, which directs state and local authorities to assist ICE.—
Sharon Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
30 July 2025
Verb
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Fortunately, Slim Shady was happy to oblige, and that was perhaps due to their relationship spanning decades.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
31 July 2025
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Serbia has been a candidate country for EU membership since 2012 and is obliged to align its foreign policy with that of the EU.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligate. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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