Obliged and obligated sound similar enough to be mistaken for each other. This article will help clear the different meanings and different English usages up and give you confidence in their use in the English language.

Obliged means to be indebted to someone for something they did for you or gave you. Obligate means to require someone to do something legally or morally and is common in American English. Obliged is more commonly used in British English today, although both are correct and have a slight variance in meaning. They both come from the verb “oblige” whose etymology includes the Latin obligare and Old French obliger.

What Is the Definition of the Words Obliged and Obligated?

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English:

Obligate — Transitive Verb

(Past Tense) Obligated (Past Participle Form) Obligating (Present Participle/Gerund)

to bind or oblige within the legal context or moral connotations or with a moral duty

to obligate oneself to purchase a building.

To pledge, commit, or bind (funds, property, etc.) to meet an obligation.

Morally or legally bound; obliged; constrained.

Necessary, essential.

Biology. restricted to a particular condition of life, as certain organisms that can survive only in the absence of oxygen (opposed to facultative):

obligate anaerobe.

Oblige — Transitive Verb

(Past Tense) Obliged (Past Participle Form) Obliging (Present Participle/Gerund)

to constrain by physical, moral, or legal force or by the exigencies of circumstance; a moral obligation

obliged to find a job
felt obliged to share it with her
to put in one’s debt by a favor or service

We are much obliged for your help.

to do a favor for

always ready to oblige a friend

to do something as or as if as a favor

When he was asked for advice, he obliged.

Example Sentences of the Words in Context

Starting in 1966, Korean movie theaters were obligated to show at least six domestic films for more than 90 days.

PROPAGANDA, PROTEST, AND POISONOUS VIPERS: THE CINEMA WAR IN KOREA|RICH GOLDSTEIN|DECEMBER 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“The Palestinians under Oslo are obligated to do everything they can,” he said.

ISRAELI INTEL CHIEF: HAMAS IS JUST LIKE ISIS|ELI LAKE|JULY 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“But he was not obligated to do that by the resolution itself,” McFaul said.

RUSSIA’S ACE IN THE HOLE: A SUPER-MISSILE IT CAN SELL TO IRAN|ELI LAKE|APRIL 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But the agency is obligated under the law to inquire about an applicant’s activities.

IRS DEEMS PRO-ISRAEL GROUP ‘TOUCH AND GO’|SARAH POSNER|JUNE 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST

There simply is not enough city there to finance the payments they are obligated to pay.

SAVING DETROIT: WHEN A BIG CITY STOPS BEING BIG|MEGAN MCARDLE|MAY 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Now, to my notion, a man should do suthin’ for his land, and not be obligated for it to mere natur’.

THE CHAINBEARER|J. FENIMORE COOPER

And if workmen had been employed thereon, the bailor would also be obligated to pay for their labor.

PUTNAM’S HANDY LAW BOOK FOR THE LAYMAN|ALBERT SIDNEY BOLLES

And think of me, miss: took into service for my voice, and obligated to holler at your pa all day long.

NONE SO DEAF AS THOSE WHO WON’T HEAR|HERBERT PELHAM CURTIS

This warrior is obligated usually to lead out a number of armed villains, proportionate to the number of knights.

LIFE ON A MEDIAEVAL BARONY|WILLIAM STEARNS DAVIS

Often to the blast we were obligated to turn our backs, and, the rain being in our faces, we little heeded each other.

RINGAN GILHAIZE|JOHN GALT

Teams are going to try and keep Jackson in the pocket and dare him to beat them with his arm, and the reigning MVP will oblige.

— C.j. Doon, baltimoresun.com, “One bold prediction for every NFL team after Week 1 of the 2020 season,” 16 Sep. 2020

That means an order by Biden could be less effective due to lack of Republican support: If Americans don’t oblige, the order could just amount to wasted economic damage.

— Lance Lambert, Fortune, “A second lockdown proposed by Trump would get more support from Americans than one proposed by Biden,” 5 Sep. 2020

But ByteDance’s legal team was eager for a fight, and Zhang was happy to oblige, one of the people familiar with the discussions said.

— Jennifer Jacobs, Bloomberg.com, “Microsoft, Walmart Offer Joint TikTok Bid, Vying With Oracle,” 29 Aug. 2020

Each deserved an opportunity to pitch elsewhere for a better team, and the Orioles were happy to oblige considering who’s left behind.

— Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, “Five things we learned from the Orioles’ moves at the 2020 MLB trade deadline,” 1 Sep. 2020

Channeling his hero, Paul mustered the courage to ask to hold it, and the Hall’s collections team was happy to oblige.

— San Diego Union-Tribune, “Memorabilia memories: Ted Williams edition,” 30 Aug. 2020

But ByteDance’s legal team was eager for a fight, and Zhang was happy to oblige, one of the people familiar with the discussions said.

— Jennifer Jacobs, Bloomberg.com, “Microsoft, Walmart Offer Joint TikTok Bid, Vying With Oracle,” 29 Aug. 2020

Prosecutors declined to name the target, but Musk was happy to oblige.

— Frank Bajak, Star Tribune, “Tesla targeted in failed ransomware extortion scheme,” 28 Aug. 2020

But ByteDance’s legal team was eager for a fight, and Zhang was happy to oblige, one of the people familiar with the discussions said.

— Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, “Walmart and Microsoft offer joint TikTok bid, vying with Oracle,” 27 Aug. 2020

Obliged vs Obligated: What’s The Difference?

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What Is the Definition of the Words Obliged and Obligated?

Synonyms for Obliged

Example Sentences of the Words in Context

Summary

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