indebted

adjective

in·​debt·​ed in-ˈde-təd How to pronounce indebted (audio)
Synonyms of indebted
1
: owing gratitude or recognition to another : beholden
I'm indebted to you for your help.
2
: owing money

Synonyms of indebted

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Examples of indebted in a Sentence

thereafter forever felt indebted to the producer for giving her her lucky break
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Oligarchs pocketed the petrodollars of the late-aughts oil boom and left the nation somehow poorer and more indebted. — Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 The story follows a girl training to be a caregiver who inadvertently tells her indebted boyfriend about a rich patient living in a large mansion. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 14 May 2026 Leaders should instead focus on creating a workplace environment where people feel valued rather than indebted. — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 With the indebted companies combining, the immediate ramifications will be greater job losses across both studios. — Joseph M. Singer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for indebted

Word History

Etymology

Middle English indetted, from Anglo-French endetté, past participle of endetter to run into debt, from en- + dette debt

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of indebted was in the 14th century

Rhymes for indebted

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Browse Nearby Words

indebt
indebted
indebtedness
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Cite this Entry

“Indebted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indebted. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

indebted

adjective
in·​debt·​ed in-ˈdet-əd How to pronounce indebted (audio)
: being in debt : owing something (as money or gratitude)

More from Merriam-Webster on indebted

Nglish: Translation of indebted for Spanish Speakers

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