Devoir

/dəˈvwɑː/

Synonyms for "devoir" (40 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (8)

Noun(4 words)
are required toassignmentbe obligated tobe obliged to

Strong matches (12)

Related words (20)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: allegiance, are required to, assignment, be obligated to, be obliged to.
  • Sentence evidence is available for devoir, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, opengloss.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "devoir".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "devoir"

Keep "devoir" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "devoir" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "devoir", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "devoir" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

4 relation types

More general

10 entries
academic taskaction verbauxiliary verbcivilityeducational taskmodal verbmoral conceptobligationpolitenesstransitive verb

More specific

14 entries
duty of careessayfiduciary dutyhave tolab reportlegal dutymoral obligationmustought toowe debtowe moneyproblem setreading journalshould

Collocations

12 entries
academic assignmentdevoir faire facedevoir quelque chosedevoir être faitdois fairedoit êtredoivent faireduty of careethical dutyhomework tasklegal obligationmoral obligation

Inflections

7 entries

Sample sentences

7 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

Students get to work with instructors like Arnaud Le Rouzic, who trained at Les Compagnons du devoir, a prestigious French organization made up of craftsmen and artisans who learn skills dating from the Middle Ages.

Source: tatoeba (8226602)

[…] he imprint not so much in his schollers mind […] where Marcellus died, as because he was unworthy of his devoire he died there[…].

Source: wiktionary

I should have long ere this paid my devoirs to the inhabitants of Raymond Castle.

Source: wiktionary

[M]y eyes were oft times [on the] charmante maitresse de la maison, who glided among her guests in her flowing Spanish mantilla, and train of the clearest blonde, doing her devoirs with winning kindness, and showing how much benevolence of manner adds to beauty.

Source: wiktionary

Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "devoir"?

Closest matches include allegiance, are required to, assignment, be obligated to, be obliged to.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "devoir"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "devoir"