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
And Atapco would not be obligated to provide the $100,000 to Aria for infrastructure improvements nor help NCDOT or CDOT add a light or crosswalk onto Mallard Creek Road.
—
Desiree Mathurin
april 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
By 2021, Quinn was done engaging with Elliott on quarterly financial statements beyond what Neon was obligated to provide under the distribution agreement.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
The system, starting up Monday, will refund tariffs directly to the businesses that paid them, which are not obligated to share the proceeds with customers.
—Mae Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Hayes-Mota, of Santa Clara, said the pope is obligated to speak on behalf of the church and its mission.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Desiree Mathurin
april 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
By 2021, Quinn was done engaging with Elliott on quarterly financial statements beyond what Neon was obligated to provide under the distribution agreement.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
The system, starting up Monday, will refund tariffs directly to the businesses that paid them, which are not obligated to share the proceeds with customers.
—Mae Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Hayes-Mota, of Santa Clara, said the pope is obligated to speak on behalf of the church and its mission.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obligate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligate
Verb
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Redrawing maps mid-cycle, when not compelled by a court order, is unusual.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
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By the time investigators examined those questions more closely, Kelly said, the statute of limitations had expired, leaving them with little leverage to compel cooperation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the case against Roy Blackmon, two witnesses later testified their statements were coerced.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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Warsh also minimized the president’s threats against the central bank, asserting that the Fed isn’t actually in any immediate danger of being coerced.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy botched an uncontested breakout pass, and Tage Thompson hounded Fraser Minten to force a turnover.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The resulting uproar forced the resignation of the chief Sinaloa prosecutor.—
Steve Fisher,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The family and the estate are just trying to oblige.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Whatever the team decides, Lomu sounds happy to oblige.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obligate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligate. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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