obliged

Thân thiện

She felt obliged to help her neighbor carry the heavy groceries.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Being under a moral or social duty to do something; feeling bound by gratitude or indebtedness. - This describes a state where someone feels they must act in a certain way because it is the right thing to do or because they owe someone a favor.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • I felt obliged to help my neighbor after they helped me move.
  • She was obliged to tell the truth, even though it was difficult.
  • We are much obliged for your generous assistance. (This is a formal, polite expression of thanks, implying a feeling of indebtedness.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be/feel obliged to (do something)": This is the most common construction, expressing a sense of duty or necessity.
  • As a witness, he felt obliged to report what he saw to the police.
• "Much obliged": A formal, somewhat old-fashioned phrase used to express deep gratitude, equivalent to "very thankful."
  • "I'm much obliged for your kindness," said the traveler.

Variants and Related Words

• Oblige (verb): To compel or require someone to do something by law, rule, or moral force; to do a favor for someone.
  • The contract obliges the company to complete the work by December.
  • He obliged the audience with an encore.
• Obligation (noun): A duty or commitment.
  • She has a legal obligation to pay her taxes.
• Obligatory (adjective): Required by a rule or law; mandatory.
  • Attendance at the safety briefing is obligatory.

Synonyms

• Indebted: Owing gratitude for a service or favor.
• Bound: Being under an obligation.
• Compelled: Forced or obliged to do something.
• Duty-bound: Required to do something as a matter of moral or official duty.

Antonyms

• Unobliged: Not obliged or compelled.
• Unbound: Not bound by an obligation.
• Disinclined: Unwilling or reluctant.

Related Phrases

• Under an obligation: In a situation where one is required to do something.
  • They were under an obligation to keep the information confidential.
• My pleasure / You're welcome: Common modern responses to thanks, whereas "I'm obliged" or "Much obliged" is the older form of expressing thanks itself.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. under a moral obligation to do something

Từ đồng nghĩa

• duty-bound
• obliged