1
as in obligations
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 crimes
a breaking of a moral or legal code forgive us our debts
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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 debts The report also claimed that Ronaldinho had amassed debts amounting to more than $2 million. —
Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026 But several had histories of unpaid debts that resulted in legal action, two had filed for bankruptcy and three others had faced lawsuits that alleged misconduct in prior law enforcement jobs, the AP found. —Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 The archdiocese typically takes a 5% cut of proceeds along with any debts a parish owes the archdiocese, which Parker said could amount to more than $5 million. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026 Once the priority debts are paid, the remaining money will be paid to general unsecured creditors, such as passengers seeking refunds, and each creditor may receive only a small fraction of what is owed. —David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026 Members of those families, in turn, also helped commit violent acts, including assault, extortion and robbery, to ensure repayment of debts and the continued success of the operation, officials said in court documents. —Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026 The mother has multiple civil judgments against her for writing bad checks and gambling debts at Las Vegas casinos, according to Nevada court records. —Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 In February, the department did not forgive any borrowers' debts through those programs. —Annie Nova, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026 Evergrande is among scores of developers that defaulted on debts after Chinese regulators cracked down on excessive borrowing in the property industry in 2020. —ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026 But several had histories of unpaid debts that resulted in legal action, two had filed for bankruptcy and three others had faced lawsuits that alleged misconduct in prior law enforcement jobs, the AP found. —Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 The archdiocese typically takes a 5% cut of proceeds along with any debts a parish owes the archdiocese, which Parker said could amount to more than $5 million. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026 Once the priority debts are paid, the remaining money will be paid to general unsecured creditors, such as passengers seeking refunds, and each creditor may receive only a small fraction of what is owed. —David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026 Members of those families, in turn, also helped commit violent acts, including assault, extortion and robbery, to ensure repayment of debts and the continued success of the operation, officials said in court documents. —Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026 The mother has multiple civil judgments against her for writing bad checks and gambling debts at Las Vegas casinos, according to Nevada court records. —Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 In February, the department did not forgive any borrowers' debts through those programs. —Annie Nova, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026 Evergrande is among scores of developers that defaulted on debts after Chinese regulators cracked down on excessive borrowing in the property industry in 2020. —ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debts
Noun
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The budget emphasizes that HUD funding is insufficient to meet rental assistance obligations.— Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
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Those obligations were not met.— Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Given the scale of Epstein’s crimes, highlighting due-process concerns can feel small-bore, or even like apologism.— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
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The 14-page bill improves enforcement of no-contact orders, ups repeat violations of protection orders to felony offenses, and provides protection to witnesses and victims who report domestic violence crimes.— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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So now our only choice, to protect the state and utility customers from the worst hazards and liabilities these contracts pose, is to challenge the Commission's unlawful approval of these secret data center contracts in the courts.— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
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When city bureaucrats saw as liabilities schools that had been denied resources, parents saw community anchors.— Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There are worse sins in the world.— Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
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Believers confess their sins to a priest, receive spiritual guidance and absolution and typically are required to make an act of contrition like saying specific prayers.— Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Both Israel and Hezbollah have traded accusations of ceasefire violations, with a Lebanese journalist, Amal Khalil, killed in an Israeli airstrike just yesterday.— Sean Nevin, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
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Red-light cameras generate municipal revenue by capturing traffic violations, for which drivers are then fined.— Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/debts. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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