debt

noun

ˈdet How to pronounce debt (audio)
Definition of debtnext
1
as in obligation
something (as money) which is owed he filed for bankruptcy when his debts exceeded his assets

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code forgive us our debts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of debt So is a call from a debt collector about a debt that does not belong to you. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026 Opposition leaders say Meloni’s government has yet to find concrete ways to stimulate long-term economic growth beyond just controlling public debt and state deficits. — Silvia Stellacci, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Athletics took on some debt to the tune of about $115 million. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026 All of these projects can collectively overburden a business with compliance debt. — Keegan Crage, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for debt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debt
  1. obligation
  2. crime
  3. score
  4. sin
  5. indebtedness
  6. violation
  7. bankruptcy
Noun
  • The company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
    — Emma Clapp, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This is not just diversity as a social obligation but also diversity of expertise that maps to where your company is actually going.
    — Albana Vrioni, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • More than two dozen law enforcement officials, from crime analysts to chiefs of police, have been charged with violating their oaths of office and conducting unauthorized searches within the Flock Safety system in Georgia in the past few months.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The allegations in the federal indictment mirror those brought by Minnesota officials, who have separately charged Castro with assault and false reporting of a crime related to the nonfatal shooting of Sosa-Celis.
    — Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of crime
Noun
  • Because symptoms associated with perimenopause can overlap with other medical concerns, talk with a qualified healthcare provider about any new, persistent, severe or concerning symptoms — regardless of your score.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The longtime 5-star Georgia football commitment threw for three touchdowns and ran for another 78-yard score for IMG Academy on Saturday night.
    — Jeff Sentell, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of score
Noun
  • Summaries of their sins and absurdities have now filled several books, but a sampler is instructive.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Moro scored for Argentina from a free kick after a five meter scrum after Australia had defended stoutly with 14 men, with Harry Potter in the sin bin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • And according to a European intelligence report this past June, Russian lenders are vulnerable due to soaring indebtedness and deteriorating loans.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The lack of access to institutional credit and chronic indebtedness is also seen by some researchers as a contributing factor to the phenomenon of farmer suicides in rural India.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of indebtedness
Noun
  • If Paul Baker wins, Nina will report the zoning violation that is their household.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Other alleged violations — which total 23 in all — range from not having any smoke or carbon monoxide detectors throughout the property to failing to maintain the building in a structurally safe and stable condition.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Answer some basic questions about your financial history, like late mortgage payments, foreclosures and bankruptcies.
    — Dan Simms, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The leases of nearly 60 other locations remain to be sold off as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
    — John Magsam Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of bankruptcy

Browse Nearby Words

debs
debt
debts
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Cite this Entry

“Debt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debt. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on debt

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about debt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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