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.

Evergrande eventually defaulted on its debt and the company collapsed two years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

The company has emphasized its strong internal cash flow and it has also raised $85 billion in debt financing over the past year.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Abiy's economic reforms have received support from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, under the proviso the country liberalises its foreign currency exchange market and gets a handle on its debt.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

That’s nearly as large as the $31 trillion of all publicly held federal debt, Romina Boccia, director of budget and entitlement policy at the Cato Institute, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

The debt meant that she needed to get a job right away.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

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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