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.

At the same time they also note possible black-swan event risks like crises caused by sovereign debt, food or fiat collapse.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

By contrast, Greece’s government saw its debt decline to 146.1% from 154.2%.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

We have no debt, our credit-card balances are paid monthly and all taxes have been paid on our funds.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Slack now lives on about $50,000 a year from various jobs, which feels comfortable since she has no debt and her expenses are low.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

So here you are—newly released from prison—homeless, unemployed, and carrying a mountain of debt.

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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