oblige

verb

(transitive, intransitive) To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).

(intransitive) To be indebted to someone.

(transitive) To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.

Roots

ligolig- · Latin · bind

Synonyms for oblige

obligatev compelv accommodatev bindn gratifyv coercev satisfyv constrainv imposev necessitatev

Synonyms & related words for oblige

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of oblige — including obligate, compel, accommodate, bind, gratify, coerce. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to oblige

Explore words related to oblige — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include obliger, obligingness, bounden, obligingly, comply, acquiesce, obligator, complaisantly. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for oblige

Common synonyms for oblige include obligate, compel, accommodate, bind, gratify, coerce, satisfy, constrain — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does oblige come from?

The word oblige breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root lig-, from Latin ligo (“bind”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.