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
Responsibility is a synonym for obligation in duty topic. In some cases you can use "Responsibility" instead a noun "Obligation", when it comes to topics like purpose, thing, indebtedness, liability. popular alternative
Responsibility
Responsibility noun - Something one must do because of prior agreement.
Usage example: I had the responsibility of closing up the shop at night
Obligation is a synonym for responsibility in duty topic. You can use "Obligation" instead a noun "Responsibility", if it concerns topics such as accountability, purpose, thing, indebtedness. popular alternative
Nearby Words: responsible, responsibly
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- commitment and obligation
- commitment and responsibility
- engagement and obligation
- engagement and responsibility
- business and obligation
- business and responsibility
- liability and obligation
- liability and responsibility
- duty and obligation
- duty and responsibility
- charge and obligation
- charge and responsibility
- trust and obligation
- trust and responsibility
How words are described
| high | high obligation | high responsibility |
| true | true obligation | true responsibility |
| legal | legal obligation | legal responsibility |
| actual | actual obligation | actual responsibility |
| Other adjectives: entire, real, collective, great, social, personal, moral, general, federal, primary, financial, familial, newfound. | ||
Both words in one sentence
- The word "mandate" imposes on the ruler an obligation of duty and responsibility, and unlike the European Divine Right of Kings, a ruler can lose this mandate and the mandate of his dynasty if he failed in his obligation.
Source: Divine Right of Kings - While his mother assures him that this isn't true, Ash still feels some obligation to take responsibility for his biological father's actions and do good.
Source: Fanfic / Traveler - Comes Great Responsibility: Homer's narrative revolves around the question of whether or not he has a moral obligation to use his skill as an abortionist to save lives.
Cite this Source
Responsibility and Obligation. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/obligation/responsibility
Obligation & Responsibility. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/obligation/responsibility>.
Responsibility or Obligation. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/obligation/responsibility.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "obligation" and "responsibility" have occurred on timeline