Word Explorer

Ought

🔄 Synonyms of "Ought"

4 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

WordDefinition
needverb(transitive) To have an absolute requirement for.
mustnounTo do as a requirement; indicates that the sentence subject is required as an imperative or directive to execute the sentence predicate, with failure to do so resulting in a failure or negative consequence.
shouldnounOught to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable.
had betterverb(idiomatic, with bare infinitive, informal) Should; ought to; need to; must.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Ought"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

WordDefinition
shouldnounOught to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable.
mustnounTo do as a requirement; indicates that the sentence subject is required as an imperative or directive to execute the sentence predicate, with failure to do so resulting in a failure or negative consequence.
needverb(transitive) To have an absolute requirement for.
had betterverb(idiomatic, with bare infinitive, informal) Should; ought to; need to; must.
wouldverbPast tense of will; usually followed by a bare infinitive.
couldverbconditional of can
willnoun(auxiliary) Used to express the future tense, sometimes with an implication of volition or determination when used in the first person. Compare shall.
cannoun(auxiliary verb, defective) To know how to.
shallverbUsed before a verb to indicate the simple future tense in the first person singular or plural.
antinomynoun(by extension) Any contradiction or paradox.
mightnoun(auxiliary) simple past of may
zeronounThe numeric symbol that represents the cardinal number zero.
gottaverb(colloquial) Synonym of have got to, have to [Expressing obligation; used with have.]
oughtaverb
requiredNecessary; obligatory; mandatory.
obligedUnder an obligation to do something.
obligated(Canada, US, Scotland) Having an obligation; obliged.
expectedAnticipated; thought to be about to arrive or occur.
supposed(idiomatic) Only used in supposed to
boundverbReady to start or go (to); moving in the direction (of).

Words Strongly Associated with "Ought"

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