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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debt
In 1964 the federal debt was $268 billion, 50% of GDP.
—
Jay Reddick, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
What that means for cardholders Holiday debt hangover?
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
New state sales tax revenue generated within the massive STAR bond district will pay back the bond debt used to build a new stadium and accompanying facilities for several decades.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors noted that after receiving the money, the defendants filed loan forgiveness applications containing further inaccuracies, which led to the dismissal of some debt.
—Chase Jordan
january 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debt
Noun
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Dozens of Tarrant County College faculty members have been ordered to pay back portions of their salaries, with college administrators saying the teachers did not meet their contractual obligations.—
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These stores would operate without rent or property tax obligations and aim to sell at wholesale prices, passing on savings to customers.—
Noun
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The charges Dasjanae Teyona Timmons, a 23-year-old with a Jessup address, and Dahmira Monya Laboo, another 23-year-old with a Severn address, were identified as suspects in the crime.—
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Tyrone Williams faces 10 charges in Roxbury District Court, including multiple assault and firearms charges, compounded by having a previous violent crime or drug crime conviction.—
Noun
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Chavez hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 57, then Oklahoma finally took the lead on a layup by Payton Verhulst with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.—
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Of the Panthers’ eight wins this season, seven have come in one-score margins.—
Noun
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That, plus the lack of talent and cap space thanks to the sins of the Deshaun Watson contract, for which general manager Andrew Berry was somehow spared, makes life difficult for whatever quarterback(s) start for the Browns in 2026.—
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Yet what elevates the show is its focus on gender relations and atoning for the sins of the past, adding layers of depth beyond its lurid plotting and somewhat ridiculousness.—
Noun
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Meanwhile, younger Americans face soaring housing costs, student-loan debt, delayed family formation and a labor market shaped by slower growth and higher federal indebtedness.—
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It has been long established that reggae also has a foundation in and indebtedness to soul music.—
Noun
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The most common template for an insider trading violation is as follows.—
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In Chicago, the indelible image of a pastor in a clerical collar shot in the head with a pepper ball by agents standing on the rooftop of an ICE building is a direct violation of CBP’s use of force policy.—
Noun
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Following bankruptcy, the chain liquidated stores, leases and intellectual property before five stores reopened in the state.—
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The currency collapse, the insane inflation, water bankruptcy, and energy crisis have created conditions for sustained unrest.—
Cite this Entry
“Debt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debt. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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