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

Relevance

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 Gardner-Johnson also streamed himself donating $20,000 from his foundation to help a Bills staffer pay her student-loan debt. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 For borrowers who have already fallen significantly behind and can't realistically repay their balances in full, a debt settlement program may be another option. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 31 July 2026 The credit rating agency described them as debt-equivalent liabilities that will leave companies on the hook for significant rent payments in the future. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 July 2026 With more than 4 in 10 hospitals in debt, cuts would have major consequences for these facilities. — Rahul Mukherjee, NPR, 31 July 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
  • Therapists also suggest talking honestly about debt, credit and any financial obligations one partner is bringing into the relationship, so nothing surprises the other person after the boxes are unpacked.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026
  • There is, however, an obligation that comes with that position.
    — Murthy Maddali, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • Michael was arrested two days later, per Denver TV station KUSA, and charged with first-degree murder, use of a weapon in a violent crime, theft of $100 to $500, and abuse of a corpse.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Instead of dwelling on the crime, the owners decided to respond with humor, posting the video on Instagram with a mock 0-star review for the burglary crew.
    — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of crime
Noun
  • His 2025 reality included middling separation scores and rates against both man and zone coverage.
    — Jake Ciely, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The personal finance site then assigned the cities a score out of 100.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of score
Noun
  • In the film, however, Odysseus’s falsehoods have dire consequences, an apparent reflection of the biblical assertion that false witness is a sin.
    — Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026
  • Drawing from Baldwin’s own experiences, the novel explores a young man’s spiritual and personal awakening while examining the lasting impact of history, sin, and love.
    — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 24 July 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • Section 61 generally defines gross income quite broadly, including income from the discharge of indebtedness.
    — Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
  • That’s because one way a district can qualify for financial hardship is to have bond indebtedness of at least 60% of the total bonding capacity.
    — Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of indebtedness
Noun
  • The state ethics commission accused the Georgia Republican Assembly and its political action committee of failing to disclose more than $180,000 of contributions and other violations.
    — David Wickert, AJC.com, 22 July 2026
  • The citations were issued for violations that included speeding, not adhering to traffic signs and signals, unsafe turning movements, use of cellphones and driving without a license.
    — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
Definition of violation
Noun
  • The site became available on the heels of two bankruptcies and the ultimate implosion of Rite-Aid, which ceased operations in October 2025 after closing all of its remaining physical stores.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • There are lots of reasons many community hospitals and nursing homes are at risk of bankruptcy.
    — Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of bankruptcy

Browse Nearby Words

debs
debt
debts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Debt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debt. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on debt

Nglish: Translation of debt for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about debt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of élan

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All