as in friendly
willing to do a favor
an obliging concierge used her pull to get us reservations at the town's hottest restaurant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in accommodating
to do a service or favor for
I would appreciate it greatly if you could oblige me by bringing a dessert to the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in coercing
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of obliging
Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
The obliging royalty would lift their hems and give the crowd a glimpse of their sneakers and cowboy boots.
—Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obliging
Adjective
To be sure, China may never become the kind of country many Western optimists imagined in the early post–Cold War decades: a gradually more liberal and obliging member of the U.S.-led international order.
—Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
The obliging royalty would lift their hems and give the crowd a glimpse of their sneakers and cowboy boots.
—Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
Vance and his family reportedly stayed in a lavish Georgian manor owned by a light-bulb magnate, obliging me to ask whose bright idea that was.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obliging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliging
Adjective
-
Rather, this is merely one more reflection of how Iger has long sought to position Disney as a family-friendly, classic Americana brand with appeal across all sides while eschewing blatantly divisive programming.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The result is a more stable, income-friendly sector—even if production growth is less dramatic.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And this does bode well for interior roominess, which is quite accommodating up front for a variety of heights and body types—plus tremendously comfortable standard sport bucket seats with excellent bolstering.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
David’s actual experience of heterosexuality is disastrous, but that experience leaves intact an idea of heterosexual life as accommodating not just human value but durable attachment.—
Garth Greenwell,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The statute allows students to reflect, meditate, pray, or sit quietly by individual choice, but prohibits schools from coercing students into any particular activity.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The allegations come amid the ongoing fallout of felony perjury and bribery charges filed in 2023 against Tran, who is accused of paying off and coercing a witness in a separate 2011 murder case.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
So far, efforts at appeasing the MAGA outrage machine have only backfired.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, Western leaders are mostly appeasing domestic constituencies outraged by the suffering of ordinary Gazans.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Within days of Cracker Barrel’s decision to ditch Uncle Herschel, the company’s market cap had shed $143 million, 15% of its value, forcing it to reinstate its old branding and pause plans to remodel Cracker Barrel locations.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The current administration will continue to target DEI programs, forcing practitioners to stay vigilent and creative about their approaches to DEI.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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British police have arrested three people on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence services, highlighting the threat posed to NATO allies as Russia pursues hybrid warfare against Western powers.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting, a spokesperson confirmed to CNN, but declined to give any details on the case.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
San Mateo County has yet to release spending and contract records from a misconduct investigation into Sheriff Christina Corpus, despite a court order more than three weeks ago compelling their disclosure.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
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In season four, Mike’s 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.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But with the ’80s opulent glam styles trending on fall winter 2025’s runways, expect to see more studded and sequin-delighting dresses across the forthcoming awards season.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
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To ensure staff are focused on delighting customers, the leadership embodies adaptive mindsets, that inspire commitment and innovation.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obliging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliging. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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