sense of obligation
noun phrase
: a feeling that something is the right thing to do
We visited them out of a sense of obligation.
Examples of sense of obligation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah began to feel an increased sense of obligation, in addition to guilt and stress.
—
Luis Velasquez, Harvard Business Review, 23 Feb. 2024
Perhaps a Dutch Nazi, acting on ideology or a simple desire for financial profit, relayed critical information to German authorities in Amsterdam; perhaps an anonymous caller phoned the police out of a misguided sense of obligation to obey the law and report wrongdoing.
—TIME, 2 Aug. 2024
This sense of obligation has led him to do incredible, valuable, lifesaving things with his money.
—Kelsey Piper, Vox, 26 July 2024
People feel the strongest bonds of affection for those closest to them, such as friends and family; as the circle of acquaintance widens, their sense of obligation inevitably attenuates.
—Francis Fukuyama, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2022
The two were undeterred, however, because of a sense of obligation brought on by disgust.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
Decades of animal rescue work have given Wood a sense of obligation to unwanted animals.
—Alexandra Rockey Fleming, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Kendricks agreed, explaining that a sense of obligation has weighed on him since Staley was let go last week.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2023
My sense of obligation for Maggie was grave and tinged with guilt.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
Luis Velasquez, Harvard Business Review, 23 Feb. 2024
Perhaps a Dutch Nazi, acting on ideology or a simple desire for financial profit, relayed critical information to German authorities in Amsterdam; perhaps an anonymous caller phoned the police out of a misguided sense of obligation to obey the law and report wrongdoing.
—TIME, 2 Aug. 2024
This sense of obligation has led him to do incredible, valuable, lifesaving things with his money.
—Kelsey Piper, Vox, 26 July 2024
People feel the strongest bonds of affection for those closest to them, such as friends and family; as the circle of acquaintance widens, their sense of obligation inevitably attenuates.
—Francis Fukuyama, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2022
The two were undeterred, however, because of a sense of obligation brought on by disgust.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
Decades of animal rescue work have given Wood a sense of obligation to unwanted animals.
—Alexandra Rockey Fleming, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Kendricks agreed, explaining that a sense of obligation has weighed on him since Staley was let go last week.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2023
My sense of obligation for Maggie was grave and tinged with guilt.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sense of obligation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sense of obligation
Cite this Entry
“Sense of obligation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sense%20of%20obligation. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share