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.

Wayfair reported a loss of 80 cents a share for the quarter, due in part to a $43 million loss from the repurchase of debt.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

On Thursday, Meta announced plans for a six-part investment-grade bond issuance, with Bloomberg reporting that the total debt raise would be between $20 billion and $25 billion.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

WASHINGTON—The U.S. national debt now exceeds 100% of gross domestic product, crossing a once-unthinkable threshold, on the way toward breaking the record set in the wake of World War II.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Credit-research company CreditSights reiterated its underperform rating on Meta’s bonds on Thursday, saying that the price of Meta’s bonds might drop because the company is flooding the market with debt.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

As prices for cotton dropped, Andrew Jackson fell deeper into debt.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

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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