ought

Is obligated to

Ought expresses obligation, duty, or strong expectation: You ought to apologize, That ought to be enough.

It functions like should but carries slightly more moral weight.

Ought typically requires "to" before the following verb, unlike most auxiliaries.

In negative constructions, ought not sounds formal; shouldn't is more common in speech.

obligation

must

Obligatory requirement

shouldExpresses obligation or expectation
requiredNeeded by rule
boundSecured or destined

compelled · obligated · mandated · committed · beholden · duty-bound · responsible · accountable · expected · supposed

moral

should

Expresses obligation or expectation

ethicsStudy of right conduct
virtueMoral goodness or merit
righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue

conscience · integrity · principles · goodness · justice · fairness · decency · morality · rectitude · probity

ideal

should

Expresses obligation or expectation

bestHighest in quality
betterOf higher quality
preferableMore worthy of selection

advisable · recommended · optimal · desirable · wise · prudent · sensible · proper · right · appropriate

expectation

should

Expresses obligation or expectation

expectedRegarded as likely
supposedAssumed to be true
anticipatedExpected in advance

presumed · likely · probable · natural · normal · reasonable · fitting · appropriate · proper · due

Categories

normsnorm, norms, standard, social norms, rule
Ethics Termsmoral reasoning, moral philosophy, meta-ethics, casuistry, teleology
auxiliariesbe, have, do, can, could
modal verbscan, could, may, might, must
modalscan, could, may, might, must
modalitycan, modals, could, may, might

Opposites

moral or practical obligation

Advised against doing

must not · forbidden · prohibited · inadvisable · impermissible

necessity vs. optionality

Lacks necessity or requirement

need not · optional · unnecessary · may · might

strength of recommendation

Expressing prohibition or forbiddance

shouldn't · forbidden · inadvisable · optional · discretionary

Phrases

ought toExpresses moral obligation

Family

thought, bought, sought, fought, nought, oughts, oughtn't

Familiarity: Top 20,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G