indebted

adjective

in·​debt·​ed in-ˈde-təd 

1

: owing gratitude or recognition to another : beholden

I'm indebted to you for your help.

2

: owing money

Synonyms of indebted

• obligated

Examples of indebted in a Sentence

thereafter forever felt indebted to the producer for giving her her lucky break

Recent Examples on the Web

As in many other low-income nations participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure framework, Zambia is heavily indebted to Chinese state banks, and Chinese companies have been accused of violating labor and environmental regulations. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025

While plenty of risks remain — Milei’s party will still be in the minority in Argentina’s national legislature, and the South American nation remains deeply indebted — for now Bessent’s risky move looks to be another win, decades after his involvement in a legendary bet against the UK pound. —Daniel Flatley, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025

The brand’s latest, which debuted at this year’s China International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition, sports a chunky, cyberpunk-indebted design and bold lighting package that wouldn’t look out of place zipping around a futuristic metropolis. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2025

Starring Lee Jung-jae, the series follows a group of indebted individuals who are lured into a macabre number of challenges that promise riches for the winner. —Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English indetted, from Anglo-French endetté, past participle of endetter to run into debt, from en- + dette debt

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for indebted

• abetted
• brevetted
• gazetted
• pigmented
• pileated
• pipetted
• regretted
• rivetted
• unheated
• carburetted
• silhouetted
• fetid

Kids Definition

indebted

adjective

in·​debt·​ed in-ˈdet-əd 

: being in debt : owing something (as money or gratitude)