beholden to
idiom
formal
: owing a favor or gift to (someone) : having obligations to (someone)
politicians who are beholden to special interest groups
She works for herself, and so is beholden to no one.
Examples of beholden to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The possibility that his case could be revived has sparked concerns that Adams is now beholden to the Trump administration.
—
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025
Painters were beholden to those wealthy people bankrolling them.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
The enhanced cooperation between Adams and the Trump administration detailed in Friday's interview has accelerated criticism that the mayor has become beholden to the president in exchange for saving him from criminal prosecution.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 15 Feb. 2025
While not taking on any particular political structure, the pre-taped bit perfectly attacks the racial prejudice society was still beholden to (and some might say still is) in spite of the 20 years that had passed since the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beholden to
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025
Painters were beholden to those wealthy people bankrolling them.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
The enhanced cooperation between Adams and the Trump administration detailed in Friday's interview has accelerated criticism that the mayor has become beholden to the president in exchange for saving him from criminal prosecution.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 15 Feb. 2025
While not taking on any particular political structure, the pre-taped bit perfectly attacks the racial prejudice society was still beholden to (and some might say still is) in spite of the 20 years that had passed since the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beholden to
Cite this Entry
“Beholden to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beholden%20to. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share