Obliging — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ə-ˈblī-jiŋ/ oblig·ing

Meaning & Definition of Obliging

Obliging (adjective)

  1. willing to do favors, helpful

Obliging (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. willing to do a favor

    "an obliging concierge used her pull to get us reservations at the town's hottest restaurant"

    similar: accommodating, accommodative, friendly, indulgent
    related: helpful, solicitous, considerate, thoughtful, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, gracious, lenient, overindulgent, permissive

Obliging (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: accommodating, favoring
    related: humoring, indulging, coddling, mollycoddling, pampering, appeasing, conciliating, mollifying, pacifying, placating, delighting, gladdening, gratifying, pleasing, satisfying, abetting, aiding, assisting, helping, supporting, attending, caring (for), comforting, ministering (to), relieving, succoring
    opposite: disobliging
    near: bothering, discommoding, disturbing, incommoding, inconveniencing, troubling, burdening, encumbering, saddling, weighing, deserting, disappointing, failing, letting down, constraining, hampering, hamstringing, hindering, hobbling, holding back, impeding, obstructing, restraining, frustrating, opposing, sabotaging, thwarting

  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: blackjacking, coercing, compelling, constraining, dragooning, driving, forcing, impelling, impressing, making, muscling, obligating, pressing, pressuring, sandbagging, twisting one's arm
    related: browbeating, bulldozing, bullying, cowing, hectoring, intimidating, blackmailing, high-pressuring, menacing, shaming, terrorizing, threatening, dragging, badgering, harassing, hounding
    near: allowing, letting, permitting, arguing, convincing, inducing, moving, persuading, prevailing (on or upon), satisfying, talking (into), winning (over)

Related Entry: Oblige (verb)

Oblige is a different word from Obliging. The synonyms below are for oblige, not for obliging.

  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 Obliging

The most common words with a similar meaning to Obliging:

accommodating, accommodative, friendly, indulgent, favoring, blackjacking, coercing, compelling, constraining, dragooning, driving, forcing, impelling, impressing, making, muscling, obligating, pressing, pressuring, sandbagging, twisting one's arm

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Obliging

Words with the opposite meaning of Obliging:

disobliging

Related Words for Obliging

helpful, solicitous, considerate, thoughtful, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, gracious, lenient, overindulgent, permissive, humoring, indulging, coddling, mollycoddling, pampering, appeasing, conciliating, mollifying, pacifying, placating, delighting, gladdening, gratifying, pleasing, satisfying, abetting, aiding, assisting, helping

Near Antonyms of Obliging

bothering, discommoding, disturbing, incommoding, inconveniencing, troubling, burdening, encumbering, saddling, weighing, deserting, disappointing, failing, letting down, constraining, hampering, hamstringing, hindering, hobbling, holding back, impeding, obstructing, restraining, frustrating, opposing, sabotaging, thwarting, allowing, letting, permitting

Word Forms of Obliging

Derived words: obligingly (adverb), obligingness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Obliging

from present participle of oblige

First known use: 1632

Frequently Asked Questions about Obliging

What does "Obliging" mean?

"Obliging" means willing to do favors, helpful. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: willing to do favors, helpful. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Obliging"?

Other words for "Obliging" include accommodating, accommodative, friendly, indulgent, favoring, blackjacking, coercing and compelling. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Obliging" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Obliging"?

There are 74 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Obliging". Common alternatives include accommodating, accommodative, friendly, indulgent, favoring, blackjacking, coercing, compelling, constraining and dragooning.

What is the opposite of "Obliging"?

Antonyms of "Obliging" include disobliging. Near antonyms include bothering, discommoding, disturbing and incommoding.

How do you use "Obliging" in a sentence?

Examples of "Obliging" in a sentence: "an obliging concierge used her pull to get us reservations at the town's hottest restaurant"; "I would appreciate it greatly if you could oblige me by bringing a dessert to the party"; "I know you're in a hurry, but you can't oblige me to drive any faster than the speed limit".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Obliging"?

"Obliging" is pronounced /ə-ˈblī-jiŋ/ and divided into syllables as oblig·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Obliging"?

"Obliging" comes from from present participle of oblige. First known use: 1632.