1
as in to unload
to empty or rid of cargo
the crew was frantically unburdening the ship in an attempt to save it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to relieve
to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers
a generous friend unburdened her of that particular financial worry
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Recent Examples of unburden
The outlook for Russia’s economy would be rosy, unburdened by sanctions and lost human capital, and made rich by Europe’s once-insatiable demand for its oil and gas.
—
Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 15 Jan. 2026
Show houses are unfailingly eye-catching—perhaps because designers, unburdened by client directives, are able to fully unleash their imaginations.
—Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 12 Jan. 2026
Being unburdened by pressure and performance leaves more room for fantasy.
—Maya Walsh-Little, SELF, 15 Dec. 2025
Maybe that’s why companies like RadAI, which focus on unburdening the physician’s workflow rather than subbing in for their expertise, have been so successful.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unburden
Marc Champion, Twin Cities, 15 Jan. 2026
Show houses are unfailingly eye-catching—perhaps because designers, unburdened by client directives, are able to fully unleash their imaginations.
—Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 12 Jan. 2026
Being unburdened by pressure and performance leaves more room for fantasy.
—Maya Walsh-Little, SELF, 15 Dec. 2025
Maybe that’s why companies like RadAI, which focus on unburdening the physician’s workflow rather than subbing in for their expertise, have been so successful.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unburden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unburden
Verb
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Vance said that for too long, China has used the tactic of unloading materials at cheap prices to undermine potential competitors, then ratcheting up prices later after keeping new mines from being built in other countries.—
DIDI TANG,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
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The vehicle can load and unload cargo from its front and drop it from its underside, allowing for flexible logistics maneuvers and operations.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Realizing he was boxed in, Chilton stepped to the side, unzipped, and relieved himself mid-song.—
Stephen M. Deusner,
Pitchfork,
8 Feb. 2026
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You may be relieved to know that cleaning this filter every month is rather excessive for this component.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unburden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unburden. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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