oblige
Bind by duty
To oblige is to bind someone by duty, law, or circumstance: The contract obliges both parties to maintain confidentiality.
More commonly, oblige means to do a favor or accommodate a request: She asked for help, and I was happy to oblige.
Someone obliged feels grateful or indebted: Much obliged is an old-fashioned way of saying thank you.
Strength or compulsion
- coerceObtain by intimidation
- pressureForce upon contact
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- enforceCompel obedience to
necessitate · impose · require · demand · command · constrain · bind · impel
Assistance given
- assistTo give support
- accommodateProvide for or adjust
- serveAttend to needs
- aidSupport given freely
indulge · gratify · please · satisfy · benefit · support · convenience · befriend
Feeling gratitude expressed
- indebtedOwing thanks or money
- beholdenOwing thanks or duty
- appreciativeFeeling or showing gratitude
- gratefulFeeling thankful
recognition · acknowledgment · thanks · indebtedness · reciprocity · repay · return · owe
State of being answerable
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- onusResponsibility one bears
- burdenOppressive weight or duty
liability · necessity · imperative · charge · devoir · pledge · bond · contract
Courteous, respectful conduct
- civilityFormal politeness in conduct
- graciousnessCourteous, kind demeanor
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
respect · kindness · thoughtfulness · gallantry · chivalry · decorum · propriety · etiquette
force
Strength or compulsion
enforce · necessitate · impose · require · demand · command · constrain · bind · impel · dictate
help
Assistance given
- assistTo give support
- accommodateProvide for or adjust
- serveAttend to needs
aid · indulge · gratify · please · satisfy · benefit · support · convenience · befriend · humor
thankful
Feeling gratitude expressed
- indebtedOwing thanks or money
- beholdenOwing thanks or duty
- appreciativeFeeling or showing gratitude
grateful · recognition · acknowledgment · thanks · indebtedness · reciprocity · repay · return · owe · debt
responsibility
State of being answerable
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- onusResponsibility one bears
burden · liability · necessity · imperative · charge · devoir · pledge · bond · contract · promise
politeness
Courteous, respectful conduct
- civilityFormal politeness in conduct
- graciousnessCourteous, kind demeanor
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
deference · respect · kindness · thoughtfulness · gallantry · chivalry · decorum · propriety · etiquette · cordiality
- social obligationRequired interpersonal duty
- much obligedExpression of gratitude
- familial obligationsDuties owed to relatives
- no obligationNo requirement to act
- moral obligationEthics-based required action
- family obligationsResponsibilities toward one's relatives
obliging, obligation, obligatory, obliged, obligated, obligations, obligate, obligingly, obliges