Obliged — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ə-ˈblīj/

Meaning & Definition of Obliged

Obliged (verb)

  1. to constrain by physical, moral, or legal force or by the exigencies of circumstance
  2. to put in one's debt by a favor or service
  3. to do a favor for

Obliged (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being under obligation for a favor or gift

    "my new neighbor gave me a Christmas present, and now I feel obliged to reciprocate"

    similar: beholden, bounden (archaic), indebted, obligated
    related: appreciative, grateful, thankful

  2. feeling or expressing gratitude

    "I'd be much obliged if you could do me this favor"

    similar: appreciative, appreciatory, glad, grateful, thankful
    related: beholden, indebted, contented, delighted, gratified, pleased, satisfied, tickled, thanking
    opposite: inappreciative, thankless, unappreciative, ungrateful
    near: inhospitable, rude, thoughtless, ungracious

Obliged (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to do a service or favor for

    "I would appreciate it greatly if you could oblige me by bringing a dessert to the party"

    similar: accommodated, favored
    related: humored, indulged, coddled, mollycoddled, pampered, appeased, conciliated, mollified, pacified, placated, delighted, gladdened, gratified, pleased, satisfied, abetted, aided, assisted, helped, supported, attended, cared (for), comforted, ministered (to), relieved, succored
    opposite: disobliged
    near: bothered, discommoded, disturbed, incommoded, inconvenienced, troubled, burdened, encumbered, saddled, weighed, deserted, disappointed, failed, let down, constrained, hampered, hamstrung, held back, hindered, hobbled, impeded, obstructed, restrained, frustrated, opposed, sabotaged, thwarted

  2. 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"

    similar: blackjacked, coerced, compelled, constrained, dragooned, drove, forced, impelled, impressed, made, muscled, obligated, pressed, pressured, sandbagged, twisted one's arm
    related: browbeat, bulldozed, bullied, cowed, hectored, intimidated, blackmailed, high-pressured, menaced, shamed, terrorized, threatened, dragged, badgered, harassed, hounded
    near: allowed, let, permitted, argued, convinced, induced, moved, persuaded, prevailed (on or upon), satisfied, talked (into), won (over)

Related Entry: Oblige (verb)

Oblige is a different word from Obliged. The synonyms below are for oblige, not for obliged.

  1. to do a service or favor for

    "I would appreciate it greatly if you could oblige me by bringing a dessert to the party"

    similar: accommodate, favor
    related: humor, indulge, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, abet, aid, assist, help, support, attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), relieve, succor
    opposite: disoblige
    near: bother, discommode, disturb, incommode, inconvenience, trouble, burden, encumber, saddle, weigh, desert, disappoint, fail, let down, constrain, hamper, hamstring, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, obstruct, restrain, frustrate, oppose, sabotage, thwart

  2. 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"

    similar: blackjack, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, drive, force, impel, impress, make, muscle, obligate, press, pressure, sandbag, twist one's arm
    related: browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, hector, intimidate, blackmail, high-pressure, menace, shame, terrorize, threaten, drag, badger, harass, hound
    near: allow, let, permit, argue, convince, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Obliged

The most common words with a similar meaning to Obliged:

Archaic: bounden
beholden, indebted, obligated, appreciative, appreciatory, glad, grateful, thankful, accommodated, favored, blackjacked, coerced, compelled, constrained, dragooned, drove, forced, impelled, impressed, made, muscled, pressed, pressured, sandbagged, twisted one's arm

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Obliged

Words with the opposite meaning of Obliged:

inappreciative, thankless, unappreciative, ungrateful, disobliged

Related Words for Obliged

contented, delighted, gratified, pleased, satisfied, tickled, thanking, humored, indulged, coddled, mollycoddled, pampered, appeased, conciliated, mollified, pacified, placated, gladdened, abetted, aided, assisted, helped, supported, attended, cared (for), comforted, ministered (to), relieved, succored, browbeat

Near Antonyms of Obliged

inhospitable, rude, thoughtless, ungracious, bothered, discommoded, disturbed, incommoded, inconvenienced, troubled, burdened, encumbered, saddled, weighed, deserted, disappointed, failed, let down, constrained, hampered, hamstrung, held back, hindered, hobbled, impeded, obstructed, restrained, frustrated, opposed, sabotaged

Word Forms of Obliged

Inflections: obliging

Derived words: obliger (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Obliged

Middle English obligen, oblischen "to impose on as a legal or moral duty, bind by oath or contract," borrowed from Anglo-French obliger, borrowed from Latin obligāre "to tie up, restrain by tying, assign, place under a legal or moral constraint, pledge," from ob- "toward, facing" + ligāre "to fasten, bind" ob-, ligature

First known use: 14th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Obliged

What does "Obliged" mean?

"Obliged" means to constrain by physical, moral, or legal force or by the exigencies of circumstance. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to constrain by physical, moral, or legal force or by the exigencies of circumstance. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Obliged"?

Other words for "Obliged" include beholden, bounden, indebted, obligated, appreciative, appreciatory, glad and grateful. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Obliged" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Obliged"?

There are 71 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Obliged". Common alternatives include beholden, bounden, indebted, obligated, appreciative, appreciatory, glad, grateful, thankful and accommodated.

What is the opposite of "Obliged"?

Antonyms of "Obliged" include inappreciative, thankless, unappreciative, ungrateful and disobliged. Near antonyms include inhospitable, rude, thoughtless and ungracious.

How do you use "Obliged" in a sentence?

Examples of "Obliged" in a sentence: "my new neighbor gave me a Christmas present, and now I feel obliged to reciprocate"; "I'd be much obliged if you could do me this favor"; "I would appreciate it greatly if you could oblige me by bringing a dessert to the party".

Is "Obliged" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Obliged" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Obliged"?

"Obliged" is pronounced /ə-ˈblīj/.

What is the origin of the word "Obliged"?

"Obliged" comes from Middle English obligen, oblischen "to impose on as a legal or moral duty, bind by oath or contract," borrowed from Anglo-French obliger, borrowed from Latin obligāre "to tie up, restrain by tying, assign, place under a legal or moral constraint, pledge," from ob- "toward, facing" + ligāre "to fasten, bind" ob-, ligature. First known use: 14th centuryt.