obligating
Imposing a duty
Obligating is binding someone to a duty, debt, or commitment.
Laws obligate citizens to pay taxes.
Signing a contract obligates you to its terms.
The word often appears in legal and financial contexts: The loan obligated them to monthly payments for thirty years.
To feel obligated is to sense a moral or social duty: I felt obligated to attend the funeral.
Pressured compliance through threats
- forceStrength or compulsion
- pressureForce upon contact
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
imposition · mandating · requiring · compelling · necessitating · forcing · pressuring · imposing
Commitment to act
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- oathFormal binding promise
- undertakingTask one commits to
- guaranteeFormal promise of fulfillment
word · bond · assurance · engagement · dedication · devotion · allegiance · loyalty
Legally or morally required
- agreementShared position between parties
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- covenantBinding formal pledge
- pledgeBinding promise given
treaty · compact · indenture · accord · deal · arrangement · protocol · convention
Formal authoritative directive
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
- directiveFormal command or instruction
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
requirement · statute · law · ordinance · regulation · legislation · edict · prescription
State of being answerable
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- onusResponsibility one bears
- burdenOppressive weight or duty
- chargeCost or accusation
stewardship · liability · answerability · moral · ethical · conscience · honor · principle
coercion
Pressured compliance through threats
- forceStrength or compulsion
- pressureForce upon contact
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
enforcement · imposition · mandating · requiring · compelling · necessitating · forcing · pressuring · imposing · binding
promise
Commitment to act
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- oathFormal binding promise
- undertakingTask one commits to
guarantee · word · bond · assurance · engagement · dedication · devotion · allegiance · loyalty · fidelity
binding
Legally or morally required
- agreementShared position between parties
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- covenantBinding formal pledge
pledge · treaty · compact · indenture · accord · deal · arrangement · protocol · convention · stipulation
mandate
Formal authoritative directive
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
- directiveFormal command or instruction
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
order · requirement · statute · law · ordinance · regulation · legislation · edict · prescription · dictate
responsibility
State of being answerable
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- onusResponsibility one bears
- burdenOppressive weight or duty
charge · stewardship · liability · answerability · moral · ethical · conscience · honor · principle · code
- persuadingpersuading, convincing, urging, coaxing, influencing
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
obligatingfreeing
Releasing from confinement
liberating · releasing · unbinding · emancipating · exempting
obligatingrequesting
Asking for something
asking · suggesting · proposing · permitting · allowing
- social obligationRequired interpersonal duty
- familial obligationsDuties owed to relatives
- no obligationNo requirement to act
- moral obligationEthics-based required action
- family obligationsResponsibilities toward one's relatives
- landlord obligationsWhat property owners owe tenants