behooved
Was duty-bound
Behooved is the past tense of behoove, meaning it was necessary or proper for someone to do something: It behooved him to apologize.
The word carries a formal, slightly old-fashioned tone, often appearing in contexts of duty or propriety: It would have behooved her to check the facts before speaking.
British English uses behoved.
Unavoidably necessary
- essentialFundamentally necessary
- prerequisiteRequired prior condition
- indispensableUtterly required, irreplaceable
- mandatoryRequired by rule
compulsory · needful · critical · vital · urgent · pressing · inescapable · unavoidable
Required moral task
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- incumbencyHolding an official position
- onusResponsibility one bears
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
charge · requirement · commitment · accountability · answerability · liability · burden · expectation
Fitting social conduct
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- mannersCustoms of polite conduct
civility · politeness · decency · dignity · tact · grace · respectability · refinement
imperative
Unavoidably necessary
- essentialFundamentally necessary
- prerequisiteRequired prior condition
- indispensableUtterly required, irreplaceable
mandatory · compulsory · needful · critical · vital · urgent · pressing · inescapable · unavoidable · exigency
duty
Required moral task
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- incumbencyHolding an official position
- onusResponsibility one bears
mandate · charge · requirement · commitment · accountability · answerability · liability · burden · expectation · stewardship
decorum
Fitting social conduct
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
manners · civility · politeness · decency · dignity · tact · grace · respectability · refinement · gentility