beholden
Indebted to another
Beholden means owing gratitude or obligation to someone for a favor or service: I'm beholden to no one.
The word carries a slight sense of indebtedness that may feel uncomfortable—being beholden implies you owe something back.
It appears almost exclusively after a linking verb: She felt beholden to her mentors.
Morally required to act
- answerableLiable to account
- accountableObligated to explain oneself
- liableLegally responsible for something
- committedFirmly pledged or bound
bound · constrained · compelled · tied · dependent · subservient · subordinate · reliant
Feeling gratitude expressed
- appreciativeFeeling or showing gratitude
- indebtedOwing thanks or money
- gratitudeThankfulness for kindness received
- obligedBound to comply
touched · moved · blessed · honored · acknowledgment · recognition · valued · cherished
duty-bound
Morally required to act
- answerableLiable to account
- accountableObligated to explain oneself
- liableLegally responsible for something
committed · bound · constrained · compelled · tied · dependent · subservient · subordinate · reliant · encumbered
thankful
Feeling gratitude expressed
- appreciativeFeeling or showing gratitude
- indebtedOwing thanks or money
- gratitudeThankfulness for kindness received
obliged · touched · moved · blessed · honored · acknowledgment · recognition · valued · cherished · esteemed
patron
Regular supporter or customer
- benefactorOne who gives aid
- sponsorFunder of activities
- donorOne who contributes freely
supporter · financier · backer · favor · debt · strings attached · influence · loyalty · alliance · vassal
- Archaismsthee, thou, thy, thine, ye
- admissionsapplication, acceptance letter, admissions, application deadline, admissions committee
- commitment levelscommitted, dedicated, devoted, loyal, faithful
- necessitiesbasics, essentials, need, essential, needs
- Thanksthank you, thanks, thanks a lot, thanks a bunch, thanks so much
- archaic Englishthou, thee, thy, thine, ye
beholdenunobligated
Not required to act
free · unbeholden · unindebted · debt-free · clear
beholdenungrateful
Lacking appreciation for help
thankless · unappreciative · unthankful · entitled · dismissive
beholdenindependent
Free from external control
autonomous · self-sufficient · free-standing · self-reliant · sovereign
- lo and beholdExclamation announcing surprise
- sight to beholdRemarkable thing to witness
- lo and behold!Exclamation of surprise