1
as in accommodates
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compels
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obliges
Finally, the series rests on the shoulders of the three principal players, who are just a pleasure to watch; the camera obliges by moving in close.
—
Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The 2026 Ram 1500 definitely obliges in that comfort.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
The terms of the deal between property owners and the government obliges these landlords to keep rents affordable for their occupants for decades, generally restricting rent to about 30% of tenants’ income.
—Brian Y. An, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
But no character in any Broadway musical of recent vintage is designed to steal scenes like Aunt Debra, and Emily Koch obliges with a bold, brassy portrayal that proves a key catalyst for the engaging spirit of this marvelous production.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
Villarreal midfielder Dani Parejo points to the space in frame three, and Rafa Marin obliges, firing the ball through to Santi Comesana and taking six Juventus players out of the game.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Hayley obliges, perhaps too enthusiastically, prompting Yasmin to get involved in the action herself so as not to be outdone in the endless game of power play.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
The senior wants the ball and Lake Travis obliges in giving it to him.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 12 Dec. 2025
That’s not the case, though, with preferred shares—and Strategy has issued plenty of these as well, which obliges it to pay regular dividends to shareholders.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2025
Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
The 2026 Ram 1500 definitely obliges in that comfort.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
The terms of the deal between property owners and the government obliges these landlords to keep rents affordable for their occupants for decades, generally restricting rent to about 30% of tenants’ income.
—Brian Y. An, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
But no character in any Broadway musical of recent vintage is designed to steal scenes like Aunt Debra, and Emily Koch obliges with a bold, brassy portrayal that proves a key catalyst for the engaging spirit of this marvelous production.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
Villarreal midfielder Dani Parejo points to the space in frame three, and Rafa Marin obliges, firing the ball through to Santi Comesana and taking six Juventus players out of the game.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Hayley obliges, perhaps too enthusiastically, prompting Yasmin to get involved in the action herself so as not to be outdone in the endless game of power play.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
The senior wants the ball and Lake Travis obliges in giving it to him.
—Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 12 Dec. 2025
That’s not the case, though, with preferred shares—and Strategy has issued plenty of these as well, which obliges it to pay regular dividends to shareholders.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliges
Verb
-
The platform also accommodates mobile properties such as boats and recreational vehicles, where operational knowledge plays a significant role in both safety and enjoyment.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Accessibility Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa accommodates guests with disabilities and offers ADA-compliant and mobility- and hearing-accessible guest room types.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Yet the Gospel compels us to do just that.—
William E. Lori,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps that’s what compels me, somewhere in the middle of our lunch, to unmask.—
Zeba Blay,
SELF,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The menu appeases a multitude of appetites.—
Tom Sietsema,
Washington Post,
17 Jan. 2026
-
The discharge petition comes as Republicans have failed to put a plan for healthcare forward that appeases all of their caucus, as a small group seeks to work across the aisle for a solution.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
However, the rotation of this filament clearly dominates how the galaxies within it spin, perhaps by funneling hydrogen gas along the dark-matter filament and onto the galaxies in a way that coerces their spin while providing further fuel for star formation.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Teleportation indulges me due to time efficiency, being able to travel anywhere without cost, and just the experience of being anywhere as soon as someone needs me.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Her girlfriend — a writer who understands the emotional and mental demands of creating — indulges her interests.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Iran is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that obligates it not to enrich uranium for military purposes.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The collective defense clause, if invoked by a member state, obligates all other members of the transatlantic alliance to treat an attack on one as an attack on all.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait remain inside OPEC not because the quota system favors them, but because OPEC is, in practice, their instrument.—
Wael Mahdi,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The revenge literature Garber favors works on a longer timeline and a more ambitious scale, targeting not private malefactors but figures of authority.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
New Yorkers deserve a system that protects them before harm occurs — not one that forces them to fight for years to reclaim what was already theirs.—
Darlene Mealy,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In her latest Netflix action effort, Theron plays a woman who sets off on a trip to Australia to soothe her grief but unwittingly crosses paths with Egerton’s unnerving hunter, who forces her into a game of cat and mouse.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliges. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
