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.

The college exhausted all options, including land sales and debt refinancing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

What’s Next: Madison Air will use the IPO proceeds to reduce its $5.7 billion debt to a more manageable $3.5 billion.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Persistent deficits, heavy debt issuance and inflation worries have weighed on longer-term government bonds recently.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

Total public debt as percent of gross domestic product stands at 122.6% External link, according to the U.S.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Then I imagine the water debt we’ve all worked up by now.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

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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