As adjectives the difference between thankful and obliged
is that thankful is showing appreciation or gratitude while obliged is under an obligation to do something for someone.
As a verb obliged is
past tense of oblige.
thankful
English
Adjective
(
en adjective)
Showing appreciation or gratitude.
- I'm thankful that you helped me out today. How can I ever repay you?
(obsolete) Obtaining or deserving thanks; thankworthy.
Synonyms
* grateful
* appreciative
Antonyms
* thankless
Derived terms
* thankfully
* thankfulness
obliged
English
Adjective
(
en adjective)
Under an obligation to do something for someone.
Indebted because of a favor done.
Usage notes
In sense “under obligation”, synonymous with obligated, though the latter is only used in American English and some dialects such as Scottish,[Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage,'' p. 675] not standard British.[''The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage ] (1996)
In dialects where both obliged and (term) are used, there is no standard distinction drawn, though individuals may distinguish nuance or use idiosyncratically. In technical discussions, particularly legal ones such as (The Concept of Law) by (1961), the words may carry different meanings, such as obligations inherent to a relationship versus ones externally imposed.
Synonyms
* (under obligation) obligated
References
Verb
(head)
(oblige)
Statistics
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