indebted

American  

[in-det-id] / ɪnˈdɛt ɪd /

adjective

1. committed or obligated to repay a monetary loan.

   He was indebted to his friend for a large sum.

   Synonyms:

   bound

2. obligated for favors or kindness received.

   He was indebted to her for nursing him through pneumonia.

   Synonyms:

   grateful, beholden

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indebted British  

/ ɪnˈdɛtɪd /

adjective

1. owing gratitude for help, favours, etc; obligated

2. owing money

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Other Word Forms

• preindebted adjective
• preindebtedness noun

Etymology

Origin of indebted

1175–1225; in- ² + debt + -ed ²; replacing Middle English endetted < Old French endetté, past participle of endetter to involve in debt ( en- ¹ )

Example Sentences

Many arrive heavily indebted with recruitment and brokerage fees -- including Minh, who intended to work to pay off the $7,500 he owed and send money to his family.

From Barron's

Whether he was manipulative or just emotionally inconsistent, you felt pressured and indebted.

From MarketWatch

Whether he was manipulative or just emotionally inconsistent, you felt pressured and indebted.

From MarketWatch

What is also hampering efforts, she adds, is that a lot of the policies and subsidies will have to be implemented by indebted provincial governments - and it's unclear if they can spare sufficient resources.

From BBC

The goal isn’t to juice short-term growth, but to stabilize a heavily indebted economy without reigniting the excesses that led to the slowdown.

From Barron's

Related Words

• appreciative
• beholden
• duty-bound
• grateful
• obligated
• obliged
• thankful