Obligation and Promise

Obligation

Obligation noun - Something one must do because of prior agreement.
Usage example: their financial obligations keep them from giving to charities as much as they would like

Promise is a synonym for obligation in responsibility topic. In some cases you can use "Promise" instead a noun "Obligation", when it comes to topics like pledge, contract, surety.

Promise

Promise noun - A person's solemn declaration that he or she will do or not do something.
Usage example: he made a promise to arrive on time, come hell or high water

Obligation is a synonym for promise in surety topic. You can use "Obligation" instead a noun "Promise".

How words are described

low low obligation low promise
particular particular obligation particular promise
certain certain obligation certain promise
original original obligation original promise
Other adjectives: sheer, actual, entire, real, large, great, social, personal, vague, unfulfilled, comic, magical.
Cite this Source
Promise and Obligation. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/obligation/promise
Obligation & Promise. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/obligation/promise>.
Promise or Obligation. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/obligation/promise.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "obligation" and "promise" have occurred on timeline