as in forcing
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 obligating
The unions argue that carrying out permanent layoffs during a funding lapse violates the Antideficiency Act, which bars agencies from obligating funds without congressional authorization, and exceeds executive authority under the Administrative Procedure Act.
—
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
This document, signed by a sponsor, is a legally enforceable contract obligating the sponsor to support the immigrant and prevent them from relying on public aid.
—Daniel Shoer Roth, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The following year, legislation was passed formally designating these problems as matters of national concern and obligating local governments to implement countermeasures.
—Gil Press, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
This document, signed by a sponsor, is a legally enforceable contract obligating the sponsor to support the immigrant and prevent them from relying on public aid.
—Daniel Shoer Roth, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
The following year, legislation was passed formally designating these problems as matters of national concern and obligating local governments to implement countermeasures.
—Gil Press, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligating
Verb
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In August 2024, students stormed her official residence, smashing walls and looting its contents, forcing her to flee into neighboring India and exile.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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In 2022, gilt markets were shaken when then-Prime Minister Liz Truss announced a swathe of unfunded tax cuts — forcing an intervention from the Bank of England and leading to Truss’ resignation after just 44 days into the job.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Guevara and two colleagues, then-detectives Michael Mason and Ernest Halvorson, then orchestrated a frame-up by coercing one witness to identify Rios by beating him with a phone book and flashlight, and another by threatening to charge him with obstruction, according to the plaintiffs’ allegations.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
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However, this kind of rethinking of coverage is not about coercing people to accept worse care in exchange for money.—
Jared Rhoads,
STAT,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The contempt proceedings are an initial step toward a criminal prosecution by the Department of Justice that, if successful, could send the Clintons to prison in a dispute over compelling them to testify before the House Oversight Committee.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
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In season four, Mike’s (Renner) control over Kingstown is threatened as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake, compelling him to confront the resulting gang war and stop them from swallowing the town.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The article is the key mutual defense clause, obliging all member countries to come to the aid of another member whose sovereignty or territorial integrity might be under threat.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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After obliging, the rapper started to riff by adding some new insults.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obligating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligating. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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