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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unburden
Sunday’s starter, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, went about his business, unburdened by offensive support once again.
—
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025
One of the billionaire V.C.’s favorite books was 1997’s The Sovereign Individual, which encourages elites to unburden themselves from nationhood through foreign citizenship.
—Alison Boleyn, Robb Report, 26 July 2025
This week is an invitation to unburden, reflect, and reclaim your energy.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 20 July 2025
Nowadays, the market is replete with accordion-style fans: confirming that, while their spinning counterparts might unburden your wrist, nothing ever beats the dramatic flair.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unburden
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025
One of the billionaire V.C.’s favorite books was 1997’s The Sovereign Individual, which encourages elites to unburden themselves from nationhood through foreign citizenship.
—Alison Boleyn, Robb Report, 26 July 2025
This week is an invitation to unburden, reflect, and reclaim your energy.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 20 July 2025
Nowadays, the market is replete with accordion-style fans: confirming that, while their spinning counterparts might unburden your wrist, nothing ever beats the dramatic flair.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unburden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unburden
Verb
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The mass of public officials and volunteers unloaded and passed about 1,200 turkeys into the food bank Thursday morning in a lively assembly line.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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Carol Burnett has unloaded a massive haul of her most coveted awards, handing them off to her alma mater in conjunction with an endowment to support aspiring musical theater performers.—
Karu F Daniels,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Earlier this year the Department of Transportation offered bonuses to retirement aged controllers to stay on the job longer to help relieve the existing shortage, but the shutdown seems to be working against that effort.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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This past weekend, the FAA reported staffing shortages at dozens of facilities, prompting the agency to slow air traffic to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers who did show up to work.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unburden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unburden. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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