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Definitions

ought

[awt] / ɔt /
NOUN
charge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
concern need tax
STRONG
care commitment committal custody duty millstone must obligation office onus responsibility right safekeeping task trust ward weight
WEAK
deadweight
NOUN
commitment
Synonyms
STRONGEST
engagement guarantee need pledge promise responsibility
STRONG
charge committal devoir duty liability must undertaking vow word
Antonyms
STRONGEST
break
STRONG
breach irresponsibility
WEAK
broken promise denial refusal
NOUN
duty
Synonyms
STRONGEST
burden business charge chore commission commitment contract function job need obligation office role service task work
STRONG
calling committal devoir dues engagement hook load millstone mission must occupation onus pains part province station string trouble trust undertaking weight
WEAK
minding the store taking care of business
Antonyms
STRONGEST
entertainment fun pastime unemployment
STRONG
advantage aid benefit blessing help hobby surrender
WEAK
disregard faithlessness inconstancy irresponsibility treachery
NOUN
must
Synonyms
STRONGEST
precondition prerequisite requisite
STRONG
charge commitment committal condition devoir duty fundamental imperative must-have necessary need obligation requirement right
WEAK
sine qua non
NOUN
need
Synonyms
STRONGEST
commitment demand obligation right urgency use wish
STRONG
charge committal compulsion desideratum devoir duty essential exigency extremity longing must occasion requisite weakness
WEAK
the urge
Antonyms
STRONG
nonessential
WEAK
comfort fortune have luxury plenty riches wealth
NOUN
obligation
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accountability agreement bond burden commitment constraint contract debt duty liability necessity need promise requirement right trust understanding
STRONG
IOU business call cause charge chit committal compulsion conscience debit devoir dues engagement must occasion onus part place restraint
WEAK
accountableness due bill
Antonyms
STRONGEST
asset disagreement disbelief irresponsibility misunderstanding
STRONG
freedom unemployment
NOUN
zero
Synonyms
STRONGEST
nil
STRONG
aught blank bottom cipher nada nadir naught nix nobody nonentity nought nullity oblivion scratch shutout void zilch zip
WEAK
insignificancy lowest point rock bottom zot
Antonyms
STRONG
VIP somebody
WEAK
anything being something thing
VERB
have
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allow become consider enjoy experience feel know leave need permit see suffer undergo
STRONG
entertain let must sustain tolerate
WEAK
be compelled to be forced to be one's duty to be up to fall on meet with put up with rest with should think about
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deny disallow forget hold ignore keep neglect refuse reject
STRONG
halt stop
WEAK
exclude want

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.

“I think there’s a happy medium, and they ought to strive for that.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

“In retrospect maybe they ought to have tightened a little sooner and a little more,” Binder said.

From MarketWatch • May 10, 2026

Steyer said he would vote for the tax, but he agreed that state leaders ought to go further, including by taxing corporate interests more.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

And we think that this historic preservation organization ought to withdraw its lawsuit.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

One glanced over as Clara swept past them to get the attention of the bartender, and she wondered whether she ought to let her hair down.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny