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.

You could instead consult National Debt Relief, which has a better reputation.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026

Some 17% of shares sought redemption at the Apollo Debt Solutions BDC this quarter, while 11.6% requested redemption at Morgan Stanley’s North Haven Private Income Fund.

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

The couple made a multimillion-dollar donation to Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that provides debt relief to people in financial need.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026

The Debt Management Office is due to auction green gilts maturing in 2037 on Tuesday and index-linked gilts maturing in 2035 on Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Debt was an ugly word and an ugly concept to Olive.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

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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