OBLIGATIONS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

obligations

noun

plural of obligation

as in responsibilities

something one must do because of prior agreement their financial obligations keep them from giving to charities as much as they would like

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as in debts

something (as money) which is owed I have to pay off my current obligations before I can buy a new car

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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 obligations In March, the department sent a letter to state superintendents about compliance obligations under FERPA. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 The school board directed the Superintendent to determine what the district’s financial obligations would be if a Schools of Hope charter occupied a closed school. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 Comptroller Phil Diamond has said a minimum of $300 million should be held in reserve to protect against tourism market downturns that could impair the county’s ability to pay for its ongoing obligations. — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Coltrane is also deeply interested in the Buddhist principles of karma and dharma, or the moral duties and obligations to a right way of life, which are sprinkled throughout the novel. — Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 However, the base settlement amount is around $12 billion, rising to $17 billion only if other major social media platforms adopt the time management obligations laid out in the list of Meta’s remedies and agree to financial penalties. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 Paxton’s office also notified two Dallas medical centers of their obligations to provide life-saving treatment. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Since then, mayoral defiance of the legal obligations to enforce the council’s budget has left the city financially short of that modest projection. — Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 That's because private student loan rates are generally determined by factors such as your credit history, income, debt obligations and overall financial profile. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obligations

Noun

Most children are forgotten in cars when caregivers are operating on autopilot mode while juggling several responsibilities at once.

— Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
While the department attributes the opacity around its procurement and distribution of its massive, $1 trillion budget to the sheer size of the agency and its responsibilities, the GAO has found evidence instead of pervasive money mismanagement.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of responsibilities

Noun

The Moon enters Aries and your 8th House of Shared Resources, Trust, Intimacy, and Mutual Support, bringing focus to budgets, agreements, access, debts, or private commitments.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
The issue is that AI technology iterates extremely fast, causing related equipment and computing assets to depreciate rapidly, whereas financing debts are long term, creating a maturity mismatch risk.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of debts

Noun

Welch did not remove Benton from his committee assignments and other caucus duties until February.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
The threat of shortages pushed countries across Asia to impose export bans, cut import duties, and start rationing fuel to maintain supplies.

— Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of duties

Noun

New rules affecting offshore trusts have rattled wealthy families because of requirements to disclose structures and potential tax liabilities, while tighter oversight has also extended to areas including insurance and offshore brokerage accounts.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
As the legislative session nears its end, Newsom’s staff and lawmakers have been negotiating behind closed doors on a deal to limit utilities’ wildfire liabilities.

— Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of liabilities

Noun

Michael Mankins and Matthew Crupi want value maximization back as the objective, with stakeholder commitments as hard or soft constraints.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Call it Comer 2035, a vision separate from the system’s broader Elevate 2035 plan that would articulate Comer’s pediatric-specific values and commitments.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of commitments

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obligation

obligations

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“Obligations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obligations. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of obligations

noun

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