1
as in load
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported
the early settlers often used horses to carry their burdens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in responsibility
something one must do because of prior agreement
the burden of homework prevented the youngster from joining his friends at the game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to load
to place a weight or burden on
burdened the dog with a little backpack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trouble
to make sad
refuses to let everyday problems burden her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of burden
semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2025
These circumstances are making homeownership unaffordable for millions of Americans: add to this formula the burden of student loan debt that many young people in the country are carrying, and the dream of owning a home gets even more unattainable.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Where some see a neighborhood burdened by people of color, unfamiliar tongues, and strange cultural traditions, others see a vibrant community.
—James Burling, Oc Register, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for burden
Noun
With Kuwait’s economy shrinking for two straight years and oil prices below breakeven levels, reducing the number of citizens can help ease the burden on the country’s generous welfare state.
—semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2025
These circumstances are making homeownership unaffordable for millions of Americans: add to this formula the burden of student loan debt that many young people in the country are carrying, and the dream of owning a home gets even more unattainable.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
Millennials, burdened by student loans and economic instability, often feel happiness is unaffordable.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Where some see a neighborhood burdened by people of color, unfamiliar tongues, and strange cultural traditions, others see a vibrant community.
—James Burling, Oc Register, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for burden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burden
Verb
-
Golden Hill, which did not score for the first nine innings of the tournament, loaded the bases again off Alpine starter Max Turner before Jake Morris earned another walk to plate Yun with a third run for a 3-0 lead.—
Dennis Pope,
Mercury News,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The material, weighing over 1,000 pounds, was loaded onto two trucks and driven into neighboring Azerbaijan.—
Yossi Melman,
ProPublica,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Their concern goes beyond their own struggles; they are troubled by the thought of other survivors who haven’t been as fortunate in securing assistance or receiving donations that could mean the difference between recovery and despair.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
4 Aug. 2025
-
What really troubles me is the reveal that her name is Mildred Brown.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
His digital life is just as organized—a fact that never fails to amaze (and slightly depress) me.—
Dan Rockmore,
New Yorker,
9 Aug. 2025
-
The fallout of black swan events like wars and pandemics can trigger higher interest rates, increase inflationary pressures, depress economic growth, erode investor confidence and depreciate the value of money.—
Mitch Salchow,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Now, conservation experts worry the road will propel more urbanization.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Altman’s statement leans into a growing competition over AI–one that developers in the U.S. are worried of losing.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And if leadership is concerned about a service member's stability, Bumgarner said the normal protocol is to ask the soldier to turn in their weapons for safekeeping.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
On the back of that victory, players recently filed a class action lawsuit against FIFA concerning its rules on player movement.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Ava Gardner was a mid-century bombshell as famous for her relationships with the likes of Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra as for her films, and by the late 1980s, when the play is set, her own star image seems to oppress her.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
8 Aug. 2025
-
So, the whole thing just seems naive from people who’ve been oppressed by this murderous regime for 46 years.—
Fiction Non Fiction
July 3,
Literary Hub,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Pickaxe weighed down with regrets of the dead and still alive alike.—
Oliver Brandt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The result is easy to sip mid- or post-workout without feeling weighed down.—
Francesca Krempa,
SELF,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, as with the presence of any MCU villain, there are threats to mankind and characters in peril throughout the film, which could be distressing for children.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
29 July 2025
-
Similarly, while the sound of the waves on a calm day is relaxing for many people, the violence of storms at sea can be distressing.—
Marie-Claire Beaulieu,
The Conversation,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burden. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share