encumber

verb

en·​cum·​ber in-ˈkəm-bər 

encumbered; encumbering in-ˈkəm-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: weigh down, burden

tourists encumbered by heavy luggage

2

: to impede or hamper the function or activity of : hinder

negotiations encumbered by a lack of trust

3

: to burden with a legal claim (such as a mortgage)

encumber an estate

Did you know?

Encumber Has French Roots

In Old French, the noun combre meant a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy. Later, in Middle French, combre referred to a barrier, similar to a dam or weir, constructed in the bed of a river to hold back fish or protect the banks. That notion of holding back is what informs our verb encumber. One can be physically encumbered (as by a heavy load or severe weather) or figuratively (as by bureaucratic restrictions). Combre also gives us the adjectives cumbersome and cumbrous, both meaning "awkward or difficult to handle."

Synonyms

• clog
• cramp
• embarrass
• fetter
• hamper
• handcuff
• handicap
• hinder
• hobble
• hog-tie
• hold back
• hold up
• impede
• inhibit
• interfere (with)
• manacle
• obstruct
• shackle
• short-circuit
• stymie
• tie up
• trammel

Examples of encumber in a Sentence

These rules will only encumber the people we're trying to help.

Lack of funding has encumbered the project.

Recent Examples on the Web

The goal would be to find hard-nosed bargains that work for both sides and are not encumbered by demands for permanent fealty or prohibitions on Turkish relations with Russia or China. —Asli Aydintasbas, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2023

Then there’s the state’s history in presidential politics, encumbered with all of its limits. —Philip Elliott, Time, 9 Aug. 2023

There is no formal art training to encumber your pure expression. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 July 2023

When my parents finally left, they were encumbered with office files and binders my father refused to throw away. —Deepak Unnikrishnan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2020

Unfortunately, Democrats who didn’t learn are still peddling panaceas musty with age and encumbered with futility. —WSJ, 9 June 2023

The effort has encumbered its targets with expansive requests for information and, in some cases, subpoenas — demanding notes, emails and other information related to social media companies and the government dating back to 2015. —Sheera Frenkel, New York Times, 19 June 2023

The effort has encumbered its targets with expansive requests for information and, in some cases, subpoenas — demanding notes, e-mails, and other information related to social media companies and the government dating back to 2015. —Steven Lee Myers, BostonGlobe.com, 19 June 2023

Nancy: Early socialists who were really advocates of women’s rights, talked about the problems of inhabiting a system based entirely on competition that would tend to penalize anyone who allowed themselves to be encumbered by responsibilities for the care of others. —How To Save A Country, The New Republic, 25 May 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English encombren, from Anglo-French encumbrer, from en- + Middle French combre dam, weir

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

encumber

verb

en·​cum·​ber in-ˈkəm-bər 

encumbered; encumbering -b(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to place an excessive burden on

2

: to make problems for the work or activity of

Legal Definition

encumber

transitive verb

en·​cum·​ber

variants also incumber

in-ˈkəm-bər

encumbered; encumbering

: to burden with a claim (as a mortgage or lien)

encumbered the land with a mineral lease

Last Updated: 27 Aug 2023 - Updated example sentences