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1objective adjective 1 : of or relating to an object or end

2 : existing outside and independent of the mind

3 : of, relating to, or constituting a grammatical case marking typically the object of a verb or preposition

4 : treating or dealing with facts without distortion by personal feelings or prejudices

— ob·jec·tive·ly adverb

— ob·jec·tive·ness noun

Synonyms

disinterested, dispassionate, equal, equitable, fair, impartial, just, nonpartisan, square, unbiased, unprejudiced—more at FAIR

2objective noun 1 : the lens (as in a microscope) nearest the object and forming an image of it

2 : an aim, goal, or end of action

Synonyms

aim, ambition, aspiration, design, dream, end, goal, intent, mark, meaning, object, plan, pretension, purpose, thing—more at GOAL

ob·jec·tiv·i·ty noun : the quality, state, or relation of being objective

Synonyms

detachment, disinterestedness, impartiality, neutrality—more at DETACHMENT

ob·jet d'art noun, plural ob·jets d'art [ORIGIN: F]

: an article of artistic worth; also : CURIO

ob·jet trou·vé noun, plural objets trouvés [ORIGIN: F, lit., found object]

: a found natural or discarded object (as a piece of driftwood) held to have aesthetic value

ob·jur·ga·tion noun : a harsh rebuke

— ob·jur·gate verb

obl abbreviation 1 oblique

2 oblong

ob·late adjective : flattened or depressed at the poles

ob·la·tion noun : a religious offering

ob·li·gate verb -gat·ed; -gat·ing : to bind legally or morally

Synonyms

coerce, compel, constrain, drive, force, make, muscle, oblige, press, pressure—more at FORCE

ob·li·ga·tion noun 1 : an act of obligating oneself to a course of action

2 : something (as a promise or a contract) that binds one to a course of action

3 : INDEBTEDNESS; also : LIABILITY

4 : DUTY

Synonyms

burden, charge, commitment, duty, need, responsibility; also pledge, promise; arrangement, prearrangement, setup; compact, contract, covenant, pact; payment, tribute; compulsion, constraint, restraint; must, requirement; coercion, duress, force; appointment, engagement, reservation

oblig·a·to·ry adjective : binding in law or conscience

Synonyms

compulsory, imperative, incumbent, involuntary, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, peremptory—more at MANDATORY

oblige verb obliged; oblig·ing [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF obliger, fr. L obligare, lit., to bind to, fr. ob- toward + ligare to bind]

1 : to constrain by physical, moral, or legal force or by the requirements of circumstance : FORCE, COMPEL

2 : to bind by a favor; also : to do a favor for or do something as a favor

Synonyms

coerce, compel, constrain, drive, force, make, muscle, obligate, press, pressure—more at FORCE

obliged adjective : full of appreciation

Synonyms

appreciative, grateful, thankful—more at GRATEFUL

oblig·ing adjective : willing to do favors

— oblig·ing·ly adverb

oblique adjective 1 : neither perpendicular nor parallel : having a slant

2 : not straightforward : INDIRECT

— oblique·ness noun

— obliq·ui·ty noun

Synonyms

canted, diagonal, inclined, leaning, listing, slantwise—more at DIAGONAL

oblique case noun : a grammatical case other than the nominative or vocative

oblique·ly adverb : in an oblique way or direction

Synonyms

athwart, crosswise, transversely—more at CROSSWISE

oblit·er·ate verb -at·ed; -at·ing [ORIGIN: L oblitterare, fr. ob in the way of + littera letter]

1 : to make undecipherable by wiping out or covering over

2 : to remove from recognition or memory

3 : CANCEL

4 : to remove from existence

Synonyms

annihilate, blot out, demolish, eradicate, exterminate, liquidate, root, rub out, snuff, stamp, wipe out—more at ANNIHILATE

oblit·er·a·tion noun : the state of being obliterated

Synonyms

annihilation, demolition, desolation, destruction, devastation, havoc, loss, ruin, wastage, wreckage—more at DESTRUCTION

obliv·i·on noun 1 : the condition of being oblivious

2 : the condition or state of being forgotten

obliv·i·ous adjective 1 : lacking