duty-bound
adjective
morally obliged as a matter of duty
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duty bound
duty boundObliged, as in You're duty bound to help your little brother. [c. 1900]
duty-bound
Britishadjective
duty bound
Idioms
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.
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“I’m drawn to police detectives, not private detectives,” he says, pointing to the duty-bound, badge-wearing protagonist in “Cure,” a Criterion-anointed classic now held in the same pantheon of serial killer tales as “Seven” and “Manhunter.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
In the world of Martin’s books, even the most duty-bound characters must find their compass in the shadow of life and memory.
From Salon ● Feb. 25, 2026
Sometimes, a patient makes an unconventional choice, but if the patient is competent and the request is fundamentally reasonable, the physician is duty-bound to comply.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2024
“I am therefore duty-bound to reject your recusal request,” he wrote.
From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2024
They can’t hurt it, because of the wire cage, but Ms. Warner still feels duty-bound to stop them.
From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead
But he noted that prosecutors are duty bound to only pursue charges that are supported by probable cause that a crime was committed.
From Seattle Times ● May 7, 2024
“The county prosecutors are duty bound to follow Ohio law,” he wrote, noting that the memo would suffice as he office’s only comment on the matter.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 20, 2023
In his resignation letter, Mr Raab says he feels "duty bound" to accept the outcome of the inquiry but describes its findings as "flawed".
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2023
He said he felt "duty bound" to accept the outcome of the inquiry but also staunchly defended his conduct.
From Reuters ● Apr. 21, 2023
“Then I would tell you in a most respectful way that you were not honoring your word, and a scythe is duty bound to honor their word.”
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
