Definitions

debt

[det] / dɛt /

NOUN

money owed to others

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arrears bill capital commitment credit damage deficit due indebtedness liability mortgage obligation price tag receipt

STRONG

IOU albatross baggage bite check chit claim cuff debenture debit dues duty encumbrance invoice manifest note reckoning responsibility score tab tally voucher

WEAK

arrearage bad news below the line dead horse in hock in the hole in the red outstandings promissory note red ink

Antonyms

STRONG

irresponsibility

WEAK

asset cash excess profit

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.

Importantly, there would be no joint debt and no shared liability.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. would result in a significantly higher debt load, $79 billion in debt, prompting concerns from the group and others about further cuts.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Unlike the toxic collateralized debt obligations that sat on banks’ balance sheets back then, private debt today is primarily held by asset managers and some insurers that have different liquidity profiles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

I wiped out my savings to pay for school — and still have debt.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

Cardan is dressed in a suit of Dain’s clothes, stolen from the palace wardrobes and altered by a clever-fingered brownie that owed the Roach a gambling debt.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Vocabulary lists containing debt

Material World: Shopping Lingo

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The Great Depression and The New Deal

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Economics

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