Necessity and Obligation

Necessity

Necessity noun - Something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable.

Obligation is a synonym for necessity in need topic. In some cases you can use "Obligation" instead a noun "Necessity", when it comes to topics like force of circumstance.

Obligation

Obligation noun - Something one must do because of prior agreement.

Necessity is a synonym for obligation in responsibility topic. You can use "Necessity" instead a noun "Obligation", if it concerns topics such as duty, need.

How words are described

ethical ethical necessity ethical obligation
sheer sheer necessity sheer obligation
unpleasant unpleasant necessity unpleasant obligation
actual actual necessity actual obligation
Other adjectives: social, immediate, political, military, cultural, financial, occupational.

Both words in one sentence

  • Chubby Mama, Skinny Papa She also abides by most traditional maternal roles, though she does so out of duty and obligation, rather than necessity.
Cite this Source
Obligation and Necessity. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/necessity/obligation
Necessity & Obligation. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/necessity/obligation>.
Obligation or Necessity. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/necessity/obligation.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "necessity" and "obligation" have occurred on timeline