feel obligated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'feel obligated' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used as a feeling of responsibility or commitment to doing something. For example: I feel obligated to help my community by volunteering at the food bank.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We don't feel obligated".

The New York Times - Arts

I feel obligated to help you.

The New York Times - Arts

And that is why we feel obligated to do this".

The New York Times

But don't feel obligated to send me a card!

The New Yorker

And why should we feel that he should feel obligated?

The New York Times

Companies should not feel obligated to provide earnings guidance.

Columbia University

You feel obligated to be all, like, couply.

The New York Times - Magazine

The students feel obligated to parents, grandparents and even unrelatedneighbors.

The New York Times

"I definitely feel obligated to give back," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Employees often feel obligated to laugh at their bosses' jokes.

Harvard Business Review

I love how we don't feel obligated to talk 24/7.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feel obligated" when you want to convey a sense of moral or social duty, rather than a legal requirement. Consider whether "feel compelled" or "feel duty-bound" might be more appropriate depending on the source of the obligation.

Common error

Avoid using "feel obligated" when you simply want to express a desire to do something. Obligation implies a sense of duty or requirement, whereas desire reflects a personal inclination.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel obligated" functions as a verb phrase indicating a subjective sense of duty or compulsion. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and typically represents a feeling of responsibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feel obligated" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a sense of duty or commitment. Ludwig AI validates this, noting its use to describe a feeling of responsibility. While it appears across various contexts, it is most frequently found in news, media and wiki sources. When using this phrase, consider whether alternatives like "feel compelled" or "feel duty-bound" might better suit the specific context. Be mindful of the difference between obligation and genuine desire to avoid misusing the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel a sense of obligation

Rephrases the original phrase to emphasize the feeling itself.

feel compelled

Emphasizes an internal force driving the action, rather than an external obligation.

feel duty-bound

Highlights a sense of moral or professional responsibility.

feel it's my responsibility

Directly states the feeling of being accountable for something.

feel morally obliged

Specifies that the obligation arises from moral principles.

consider it my duty

Highlights a sense of duty and commitment to fulfilling a specific task.

feel under pressure

Focuses on external influences creating a sense of obligation.

feel driven to

Indicates a strong, internal motivation similar to obligation.

feel beholden to

Suggests a sense of indebtedness leading to obligation.

feel constrained to

Implies a limitation or restriction that creates a feeling of obligation.

FAQs

What does it mean to "feel obligated"?

To "feel obligated" means to feel a sense of duty or commitment to do something, often because of social expectations, moral principles, or a previous agreement.

When is it appropriate to use "feel obligated" in a sentence?

It's appropriate to use "feel obligated" when expressing a sense of moral or social duty, or a feeling that you should do something even if you don't necessarily want to. For instance, "I "feel duty bound" to help my neighbor after they helped me last year".

What are some alternatives to saying "I feel obligated"?

Depending on the context, you could say "I "feel compelled"", "I "feel duty bound"", "I "feel it's my responsibility"", or "I "feel morally obliged"".

Is there a difference between "feel obligated" and "feel obliged"?

"Feel obligated" and "feel obliged" are largely interchangeable and have the same meaning. Both indicate a sense of duty or compulsion to do something.