obliged
Compelled by duty
Obliged means bound by duty, gratitude, or necessity.
If you're obliged to attend, you must go.
If someone does you a favor, you feel obliged to return it.
Much obliged is an old-fashioned way of saying thank you—acknowledging the debt created by kindness.
To oblige someone is to do them a service or accommodate their wishes: Happy to oblige.
Secured or destined
- requiredNeeded by rule
- responsibleObligated to answer for actions
- committedFirmly pledged or bound
- beholdenOwing thanks or duty
duty-bound · honor-bound · accountable · pledged · sworn · expected · mandated · charged
Feeling gratitude expressed
- appreciativeFeeling or showing gratitude
- indebtedOwing thanks or money
- beholdenOwing thanks or duty
- gratefulFeeling thankful
touched · moved · honored · humbled · recognition · acknowledgment · gratitude · blessed
Yet to be paid
- beholdenOwing thanks or duty
- in debtOwing money owed
- repaymentGiving back what's owed
- favorKind act or preference
reciprocate · return · owe · payback · gratitude · debt · dues · balance
Made to occur unwillingly
- pressuredUrged with insistence
- compelledMade to act
- constrainedForced into narrow limits
- unwillingOpposed to participating
reluctant · involuntary · dragooned · intimidated · strongarmed · bulldozed · railroaded · browbeaten
bound
Secured or destined
- requiredNeeded by rule
- responsibleObligated to answer for actions
- committedFirmly pledged or bound
beholden · duty-bound · honor-bound · accountable · pledged · sworn · expected · mandated · charged · entrusted
thankful
Feeling gratitude expressed
- appreciativeFeeling or showing gratitude
- indebtedOwing thanks or money
- beholdenOwing thanks or duty
grateful · touched · moved · honored · humbled · recognition · acknowledgment · gratitude · blessed · heartfelt
owing
Yet to be paid
favor · reciprocate · return · owe · payback · gratitude · debt · dues · balance · arrears
forced
Made to occur unwillingly
- pressuredUrged with insistence
- compelledMade to act
- constrainedForced into narrow limits
unwilling · reluctant · involuntary · dragooned · intimidated · strongarmed · bulldozed · railroaded · browbeaten · arm-twisted
helpful
Giving useful aid
- willingReady without resistance
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
- agreeablePleasantly cooperative
compliant · amenable · gracious · courteous · polite · considerate · eager · ready · available · at your service
obligedfree
Without payment or restriction
unobligated · exempt · unrequired · unconstrained · unbound
obligedungrateful
Lacking appreciation for help
unappreciative · thankless · unthankful · ungracious · inappreciative
obligedunhelpful
Not providing assistance
unwilling · unaccommodating · reluctant · disobliged · disobliging
- 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, oblige, obligatory, obligated, obligations, obligate, obliges, obligating