insurmountable debt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "insurmountable debt" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a level of debt that seems impossible to overcome or pay off. Example: "After years of poor financial decisions, she found herself facing insurmountable debt." Alternative expressions include "unmanageable debt" and "overwhelming debt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

They left our students with broken promises, inadequate job training and insurmountable debt.

The Guardian - Opinion

But also because he appeared to malfunction midway through the heated contest when the subject of Britain's insurmountable debt came up.

Independent

The drama swirling around the Wilpons, and in particular the accruing of insurmountable debt, eerily reflects the most disheartening developments occurring across the country in recent years.

The New Yorker

We need elected officials to make some hard decisions (for example, means testing for Social Security) so we can undertake more short-term borrowing without fear of drowning our children in insurmountable debt.

The New York Times

Now, across much of America, what starts as a simple speeding ticket can, if you're too poor to pay, mushroom into an insurmountable debt, padded by probation fees and, if you don't appear in court, by warrant fees.

The New Yorker

"At the moment too many countries with insurmountable debt problems leave them too long, imposing unnecessarily heavy economic costs on themselves and on the international community that has to pick up the pieces," Ms. Krueger said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Following the news of her death, several media outlets speculated that insurmountable debts had but her under huge amounts of stress and emotional strain.

Independent

Today, somewhat due to the grievous irresponsibilities of our parents, we know that such behaviour results in insurmountable debts being foisted on future generations, and, if you really give it your all, the slaughter of millions of innocent civilians.

Vice

With the growth of alternative purchasing possibilities and the proliferation of direct-to-consumer websites, the music business' bottom line apparently has stabilized with a label or two still struggling to eliminate their almost insurmountable debts.

Huffington Post

Credit counseling is a strong option for debtors who cannot seem to manage their budget, who can't arrive at a repayment plan with their creditors, and who have lost track of their insurmountable debts.

WikiHow

A 1998 survey by Nellie Mae, a nonprofit provider of education loans, found that 69% of African Americans who dropped out of college blamed insurmountable loan debt.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "insurmountable debt", consider the audience and context. It is a strong phrase that conveys a sense of hopelessness, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation. Use alternative phrases like "unmanageable debt" if a less dramatic tone is desired.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the extent of the debt. "Insurmountable debt" implies a debt that is virtually impossible to overcome. Ensure the situation truly warrants such strong language; otherwise, consider using a more moderate phrase like "significant debt".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "insurmountable debt" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "insurmountable" modifies the noun "debt". It describes the nature of the debt, emphasizing its unmanageable or unconquerable state. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show the phrase used to describe student loans, national deficits and personal financial situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "insurmountable debt" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a debt that seems impossible to overcome. As Ludwig AI explains, its primary function is to convey the severity and hopelessness of a financial situation, often in contexts related to news and media, formal business discussions, and even wiki articles. When writing, it's important to consider the impact of this strong phrase and ensure it accurately reflects the situation, perhaps considering alternatives such as "unmanageable debt" or "overwhelming debt" if a less dramatic tone is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unmanageable debt

Focuses on the difficulty in managing or controlling the debt.

unpayable debt

Highlights the inability to pay off the debt.

overwhelming debt

Emphasizes the burdensome nature of the debt.

crushing debt

Illustrates the severe impact and pressure caused by the debt.

crippling debt

Focuses on the debt's power to hinder or disable.

insurpassable debt

Highlights the debt's unreachability or transcendence.

unserviceable debt

Indicates that the debt cannot be serviced or maintained.

unconquerable debt

Emphasizes the inability to defeat the debt.

unsubduable debt

Indicates that the debt cannot be subdued or overcome.

unbearable debt load

Highlights the heavy burden of the debt.

FAQs

How to use "insurmountable debt" in a sentence?

You can use "insurmountable debt" to describe a situation where the amount of debt is so high that it seems impossible to pay off. For example: "The student was facing "insurmountable debt" after graduating from college."

What can I say instead of "insurmountable debt"?

You can use alternatives such as "unmanageable debt", "overwhelming debt", or "crushing debt" depending on the context.

Is "insurmountable debt" a formal or informal phrase?

"Insurmountable debt" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more appropriate for serious discussions about financial difficulties, regardless of the setting.

What's the difference between "insurmountable debt" and "significant debt"?

"Insurmountable debt" implies that the debt is almost impossible to overcome, while "significant debt" simply means that the debt is large or noteworthy, without necessarily being impossible to manage.