in hock

ADJECTIVE

beholden

Synonyms

STRONGEST

grateful obligated obliged

STRONG

bound owing

WEAK

into on a string on the arm on the cuff on the tab owe one responsible under obligation

Antonyms

WEAK

ingrateful

ADJECTIVE

indebted

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appreciative beholden duty-bound grateful obligated obliged thankful

WEAK

accountable answerable for bound bounden chargeable honor-bound hooked in debt liable owed owing responsible

Antonyms

STRONGEST

thankless unappreciative ungrateful

WEAK

paid settled

ADJECTIVE

pawned

Synonyms

STRONG

hocked pledged sold

WEAK

borrowed on

NOUN

debt

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 the hole in the red outstandings promissory note red ink

Antonyms

STRONG

irresponsibility

WEAK

asset cash excess profit

NOUN

deficit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

loss shortfall

STRONG

arrears defalcation default deficiency dues inadequacy insufficiency lack paucity scantiness shortcoming

WEAK

dead horse due bill in the hole in the red insufficience red ink underage

Antonyms

STRONG

abundance adequacy advantage enough perfection plenty satisfaction success sufficiency

WEAK

excess superfluousness

VERB

owe

Synonyms

STRONGEST

incur

STRONG

lost

WEAK

be beholden be bound be contracted be in arrears be in debt be indebted be into one for be obligated be under obligation behind feel bound get on credit have borrowed on the tab ought to run up a bill

Antonyms

WEAK

pay resolve settle

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.

In the New Statesman, he said: "We've got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets".

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

The Simon & Schuster transaction will leave the publisher $1 billion in hock, ratcheting up pressure to repay the debt — and turn a profit.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2023

His jewelry had been in hock for two years.

From New York Times • Nov. 9, 2015

Determined to make money, Aldo has a long history of failed entrepreneurial ventures, leaving him in hock to a host of aggrieved investors.

From Washington Post • Sep. 14, 2015

Bad Jack is doing a ten-year stretch in Sing Sing, Clever Charley is in hock at Joliet, and Sweet William is the only one who is at large—it must be William.'

From Danger! A True History of a Great City's Wiles and Temptations The Veil Lifted, and Light Thrown on Crime and its Causes, and Criminals and their Haunts. Facts and Disclosures. by Howe, William F.

in hock

Example Sentences

Related Words