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
Steven Delco,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2026
But several Johnson opponents argued the ordinance would place too large a burden on neighborhood landlords and should be reworked alongside them.
—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
ABC News,
27 June 2026
Overmyer-Velazquez pointed out that these warehouses and industrial plants often provide great benefits to the larger society, yet their effects only burden a select few.
—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for burden
Noun
American families also shoulder financial burdens that many Dutch families never face.
—
Steven Delco,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2026
But several Johnson opponents argued the ordinance would place too large a burden on neighborhood landlords and should be reworked alongside them.
—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
Verb
Ireland go home no longer burdened by the streak and adding to an historic weekend in which the men defeated India for the first time in a T20 in Belfast.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
Overmyer-Velazquez pointed out that these warehouses and industrial plants often provide great benefits to the larger society, yet their effects only burden a select few.
—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for burden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burden
Noun
-
Depending on how full your washing machine is, add up to a cup of it to your regular load and get ready to see the difference.
-
Like a true pal, a big pot of it in my refrigerator lightens my load, providing a nourishing meal my whole family loves at a moment’s notice.
Noun
-
In many cases, cars add stress, expense, and responsibility without many upsides for college students, especially those attending urban colleges and universities with readily accessible public transit.
-
Chuck Norris Throughout his life, Chuck Norris was associated with messages celebrating patriotism, faith and civic responsibility.
Noun
-
Foster effectively invented the idea of a professional songwriter; founded the American songbook and pioneered the now-standard verse-chorus structure; and inspired the intellectual-property law of music.
-
Paired with bubbly disco grooves and chant-along choruses, the band became gay icons overnight.
Verb
-
As the second half began, Cape Verde continued to hold off the Argentinians and managed a couple of opportunities on the opposition’s goal, though nothing that overly troubled Emiliano Martínez.
-
Woolf composed her great modernist novels and her brilliant essays while troubled by suicidal thoughts and the tumult of two world wars.
Noun
-
While requiring a fourth crew member, manual loading offers flexibility in ammunition handling and eliminates reliance on a mechanical autoloader.
-
That is the piece that could change how loading docks operate.
Noun
-
Leaders who want durable AI revenue need to treat commercial clarity as an obligation before the market turns confusion into precedent.
-
Taking time to understand the legal obligations, reviewing account documents and exploring repayment or debt relief options when necessary can help families make informed financial decisions during an already challenging time.
Verb
-
However, price bulls highlight a fragile US-Iran ceasefire and past IEA surplus forecasts that failed to depress prices.
-
The problem is that too many teachers are failing to motivate students, and the peer effect can go both ways, depressing student achievement in places where ambition isn’t valued.
Noun
-
Metadata provides the context needed to understand how workloads communicate, where traffic is moving and how AI systems behave over time without requiring organizations to analyze every prompt, transaction or data payload individually.
-
The first stage puts its payload inside an app bundle that impersonates real components built into macOS.
Cite this Entry
“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burden. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
