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Definitions

beholden

[bih-hohl-duhn] / bɪˈhoʊl dən /
ADJECTIVE
indebted
Synonyms
STRONGEST
grateful obligated obliged
STRONG
bound owing
WEAK
in hock into on a string on the arm on the cuff on the tab owe one responsible under obligation
Antonyms
WEAK
ingrateful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When an actor is so beholden to one role, it doesn’t just limit their creativity, but their perspective, too.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

Writers are beholden to truth rather than any particular narrative form, and the deconstructive and interior turns in fiction have yielded great works.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Some experts have said that Tesla’s board is beholden to Musk and does not act independently.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

"If companies are determined to increase pricing, it is beholden on us to make sure that customers are able to go elsewhere as easily as possible."

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025

Time is beholden to neither love nor tyrant.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.