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.

Longer term, the debt overhang will remain throughout the developed markets.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Not only does the pipeline of junior talent dry up, but residual effects include buggy software, service outages, security vulnerabilities and mounting technical debt.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

But with Paramount taking on substantial debt to acquire Warner Bros.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

Rather than equity, it is funded by debt, with the amount tied to AI totaling around $1.2 trillion, 14% of all investment-grade debt.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

In fact, in some jurisdictions, individuals may “choose” to go to jail as a way to reduce their debt burdens, a practice that has been challenged as unconstitutional.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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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