different between obliged vs indebted

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??bla?d?d/
• Hyphenation, UK: ob?liged; US: obliged

Adjective

obliged (comparative more obliged, superlative most obliged)

1. Under an obligation to do something.

   All employees are obliged to complete a tax return every year.

2. Grateful or indebted because of a favor done.

   I'm greatly obliged for your help with this problem.

Usage notes

In sense “under obligation”, synonymous with obligated, though the latter is only used in American English and some dialects such as Scottish, not standard British.

In dialects where both obliged and obligated are used, there is no standard distinction drawn, though individuals may distinguish nuance or use idiosyncratically. In technical discussions, particularly legal ones such as The Concept of Law by H. L. A. Hart (1961), the words may carry different meanings, such as obligations inherent to a relationship versus ones externally imposed.

The "grateful or indebted" sense is considered dated in some contexts.

Synonyms

• (under obligation): obligated

Translations

Verb

obliged

1. simple past tense and past participle of oblige

References

English

Alternative forms

• endebted (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?d?t?d/
• Hyphenation: in?debt?ed

Verb

indebted

1. simple past tense and past participle of indebt

Adjective

indebted (comparative more indebted, superlative most indebted)

1. (usually with to) Obligated, especially financially.

Synonyms

• beholden
• obliged

Translations