as in debt
something (as money) which is owed
your liabilities total about $200,000
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Recent Examples of liabilities
Healey and Campbell clearly have not thought through the potential dangers and liabilities of their brilliant idea.
—
Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
But a district without a permanent superintendent, operating under a fiscal cloud, and facing billions in legacy liabilities, shouldn’t sign a contract now that will compound these deficits for generations.
—Lance Christensen, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Nick Schroeder, a policy analyst at the nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst’s Office, said the state has plans to reduce unfunded liabilities for pensions and retiree healthcare, but that isn’t the case with unused time off.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
There’s a common misconception, according to Piskorski, that private credit funds are a serious risk because banks are backed on average by 10% equity (capital) and 90% debt (liabilities).
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
In 2001, Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill attempted to explicitly book the value of pay-as-you-go liabilities but several events later that year – including the 9/11 attacks and the Enron meltdown – shifted the focus toward more immediate challenges.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
There’s no set limit or good level of transfer debt for clubs — United and City can meet £300m-plus liabilities much more readily than, say, Bournemouth or Brentford can — but relative to their peers, Liverpool entered last summer with far smaller future payments needing to be met.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Buyers tend to look at above-ground pools as liabilities, especially pools in less-than-perfect condition.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Transfers that appear reactive can become focal points in litigation, particularly if liabilities were foreseeable before the transaction closed.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
But a district without a permanent superintendent, operating under a fiscal cloud, and facing billions in legacy liabilities, shouldn’t sign a contract now that will compound these deficits for generations.
—Lance Christensen, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Nick Schroeder, a policy analyst at the nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst’s Office, said the state has plans to reduce unfunded liabilities for pensions and retiree healthcare, but that isn’t the case with unused time off.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
There’s a common misconception, according to Piskorski, that private credit funds are a serious risk because banks are backed on average by 10% equity (capital) and 90% debt (liabilities).
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
In 2001, Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill attempted to explicitly book the value of pay-as-you-go liabilities but several events later that year – including the 9/11 attacks and the Enron meltdown – shifted the focus toward more immediate challenges.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
There’s no set limit or good level of transfer debt for clubs — United and City can meet £300m-plus liabilities much more readily than, say, Bournemouth or Brentford can — but relative to their peers, Liverpool entered last summer with far smaller future payments needing to be met.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Buyers tend to look at above-ground pools as liabilities, especially pools in less-than-perfect condition.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Transfers that appear reactive can become focal points in litigation, particularly if liabilities were foreseeable before the transaction closed.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liabilities
Noun
-
White officials used their positions atop the local commissions that oversaw federal agricultural programs to drive Black landowners into so much debt that most of them had to sell off their land.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
New data shows that Americans have saved less in the past few months and lower-income families in particular have run up more debts.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Other obligations, like unpaid child support, may also result in account restrictions or seizures through court or administrative orders.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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However, Canada’s Online Streaming Act disadvantages American companies and undermines competitiveness by requiring streaming companies to subsidize and promote Canadian content over their own productions through discriminatory obligations that Canadian broadcasters do not face.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Liabilities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liabilities. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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