obligate

/ˈɑbləˌɡeɪt/

Other forms: obligated; obligates; obligating

To obligate is to either force someone to do something or be compelled to do something. You’re obligated to get to work on time if you want to keep your job.

Obligating has to do with responsibilities. When you have a job, you're obligated to show up and do your work. You could also say the job obligates you to do these things. Obligate, which is about obligations (duties), can be used another way – to commit as security. Money would be obligated, or put up as security. Obligate is not the same thing as oblige, which is like doing a favor. To obligate is meaner, it means “to force.”

Definitions of obligate

1. verb

   force somebody to do something
   synonyms: compel, oblige

   types:

   force, thrust

   impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably

   walk

   make walk

   coerce, force, hale, pressure, squeeze

   cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

   clamor, clamour

   compel someone to do something by insistent clamoring

   condemn

   compel or force into a particular state or activity

   shame

   compel through a sense of shame

   apply, enforce, implement

   ensure observance of laws and rules

   enforce, impose

   compel to behave in a certain way

   stick, sting

   saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous

   exhibit, march, parade

   walk ostentatiously

   march

   cause to march or go at a marching pace

   turn up the heat, turn up the pressure

   apply great or increased pressure

   drive

   compel or force or urge relentlessly or exert coercive pressure on, or motivate strongly

   bludgeon

   overcome or coerce as if by using a heavy club

   steamroll, steamroller

   bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure

   squeeze for

   squeeze someone for money, information, etc.

   dragoon, railroad, sandbag

   compel by coercion, threats, or crude means

   terrorise, terrorize

   coerce by violence or with threats

   bring oneself

   cause to undertake a certain action, usually used in the negative

   execute, run

   carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine

   execute

   carry out the legalities of

   type of:

   cause, get, have, induce, make, stimulate

   cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner
2. verb

   commit in order to fulfill an obligation
   “obligate money”

   type of:

   commit, confide, entrust, intrust, trust

   confer a trust upon
3. verb

   bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
   synonyms: bind, hold, oblige

   types:

   pledge

   bind or secure by a pledge

   article

   bind by a contract; especially for a training period

   indent, indenture

   bind by or as if by indentures, as of an apprentice or servant

   tie down

   restrain from independence by an obligation

   type of:

   relate

   have or establish a relationship to
4. adjective

   restricted to a particular condition of life
   “an obligate anaerobe can survive only in the absence of oxygen”

   antonyms:

   facultative

   able to exist under more than one set of conditions