1
as in to accommodate
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 to compel
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 oblige
She was obliged, as an enslaved woman in the antebellum South, to labor in his household for him, his wife and his children.
—
Sara Georgini, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile Charlotte Lawrence and boyfriend Andrew Watt obliged.
—Ryma Chikhoune, WWD, 2 Mar. 2025
While attempting to oblige those chants, the front office was largely paralyzed this winter.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
On the day after President Trump won another term in the United States, Mr. Scholz obliged, forcing early elections in the process.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oblige
Sara Georgini, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile Charlotte Lawrence and boyfriend Andrew Watt obliged.
—Ryma Chikhoune, WWD, 2 Mar. 2025
While attempting to oblige those chants, the front office was largely paralyzed this winter.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
On the day after President Trump won another term in the United States, Mr. Scholz obliged, forcing early elections in the process.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oblige
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oblige
Verb
-
Seven sites are projected to accommodate more than 1.5 million people with temporary housing, provided to the displaced during the reconstruction process.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Baby Hour, something that savvy urban restaurants are increasingly keen to accommodate.—
Maggie Hennessy,
Bon Appétit,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
If the court finds that Musk is the child's father, St. Clair can then compel him to pay child support.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Mulligan invites Thompson — after her Misty used magic to compel the dragon to dance as a distraction — to roll for the dragon’s power to resist it.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Catch up quick: Stripe tender offers are becoming an annual event as the company seeks to appease employees while continuing to delay an IPO.—
Ryan Lawler,
Axios,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The days of appeasing regimes that are hostile to the United States, coddling dictators, and sidelining our national security interests are over.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Trump’s rocky relationship with Zelensky goes back five years—to when Trump first held up military assistance Congress had authorized for Ukraine to coerce Zelensky into investigating his political rival Joe Biden.—
Brian Bennett,
TIME,
5 Mar. 2025
-
A week later, the White House used the threat of tariffs to coerce Mexico into dispatching thousands of additional troops along the U.S.-Mexico border to combat fentanyl smuggling.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Police said they were assisted by DCF as well as the Ansonia-Milford State’s Attorney’s Office and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2025
-
Jenner was assisted by sister styling duo Alexandra Rose and Mackenzie Grandquist, who she’s worked with since 2022.—
Hannah Malach,
WWD,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Children who have fled instability or danger in their home countries are now being forced to contend with a new crisis: not knowing if their parents will be safe during school drop-off.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The episode opened right where the last one left off — Britney was forced to decide Danielle’s fate at the roundtable after Danielle and Ivar tied in votes at the penultimate banishment ceremony.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
After writhing on the ground for a few minutes, Irving was helped to the free-throw line and channeled his inner Kobe: Chills.—
Stan Son,
The Athletic,
5 Mar. 2025
-
The moment was met with quiet support from the audience, as Lacey expressed gratitude to those who have helped carry the weight of his grief.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
While the city is legally obligated to make the $175 million pension payment, the majority of staff covered by the municipal pension fund are current or former nonteacher CPS staff.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
-
McFadden has disputed that under current state law, he’s required or obligated to make that additional phone call.—
Avi Bajpai,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oblige.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oblige. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share