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.

Ways to potentially eliminate education debt while simultaneously building decades of tax-advantaged compounding that may address the wealth-building challenges their grandchildren face.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

In constructing this ranking, we owe a heavy debt to the work of others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

People who had carefully planned their retirement, and had expected to clear mortgage debt or car finance, were left with no lump sum and no income.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Campbell’s is also managing elevated debt following its acquisition of Sovos Brands and faces tariff-related cost pressures.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

“The readers of Grant’s have seen for themselves how a stack of non-investment grade mortgage slices can be rearranged to form a collateralized debt obligation,” one piece began.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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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