1
as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the claim that all of these regulations encumber doctors, taking time away from the actual practice of medicine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to load
to place a weight or burden on
don't encumber your pack animal so much that it can hardly move
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encumber
As with other good car designs that endured well beyond their 1960s-era prime, the Type 14 eventually became encumbered by massive rubber bumpers and oversized taillamps by 1973, though even these later models retain their charm.
—
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Some 60% of the world’s GDP is encumbered by debt to GDP of 100% or more, and untypically large deficits in the context of a business cycle expansion phase.
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The block is encumbered with three ground leases.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
The land is thus financially encumbered and won’t be availble to be leased or sold until 2031 or after.
—Eric Adler
august 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encumber
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Some 60% of the world’s GDP is encumbered by debt to GDP of 100% or more, and untypically large deficits in the context of a business cycle expansion phase.
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The block is encumbered with three ground leases.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
The land is thus financially encumbered and won’t be availble to be leased or sold until 2031 or after.
—Eric Adler
august 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encumber
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encumber
Verb
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What personal demons will impede the hunt for a killer?—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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Among other things, the plaintiffs argue ingress via Billings Road should not be impeded or limited to La Cantera residents.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the price of Brent crude climbed and attacks rattled markets, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration may lift restrictions on Iranian oil already loaded onto vessels.—
Victoria Craw,
Washington Post,
19 Mar. 2026
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Tankers load up on Kharg Island, which is about 20 miles from Iran's coast in the Persian Gulf, before heading through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Arabian Sea and beyond.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a particularly craven twist, this letter enlisted the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Protection Clause to halt or hinder affinity programming in schools.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
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State investigators say federal authorities have blocked them from accessing evidence, hindering a possible use-of-force investigation.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, survivors who were homeless, unbanked, or too burdened by compounding challenges like disabilities or caregiving roles to apply for multiple types of assistance were falling through the cracks of public and private disaster programs, Huguenin said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Polling suggests Californians support taxing corporations more to maintain the state’s social programs without burdening individual residents, who already face costs of living higher than most of the country.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
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Interference from Starlink and other satellites has already become frustratingly routine for astronomers, hampering science as celestial objects are obscured, and the problem is only going to get worse.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And Gabrels has filled those spaces with guitar textures in ways no other guitarist could.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
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The interiors are curated to perfection, with vintage objects and beautiful antiques filling the space.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Seferlis pleaded guilty to 17 counts of mailing threatening letters and eight counts of obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs, court documents show.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Jennings was charged obstructing a government operation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tonight’s ceremony had none of the major dramatic mishaps that have both embarrassed the Academy Awards’ organizers and affirmed the event’s status as must-see live TV.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
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The Americans were left to root for the same team that embarrassed them, and that team delivered.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumber. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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