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
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Recent Examples of burden
William Guillory, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Such a recommendation suggests that the vaccines’ overall benefits are ambiguous enough to require discussion—and puts an additional burden on both patients and health-care providers, who can administer what was once a routine vaccine only after a conversation that must then be documented.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
Gary is only burdened by his own high standards.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burden
Noun
Then, there’s the burden that’s being put on Durant in his 18th season to carry the team through December and January when, in reality, he was brought in to get this team over the hump in May and June.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Such a recommendation suggests that the vaccines’ overall benefits are ambiguous enough to require discussion—and puts an additional burden on both patients and health-care providers, who can administer what was once a routine vaccine only after a conversation that must then be documented.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
Both left office humbled, burdened with lousy poll numbers and facing a well of deep voter discontent.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
Gary is only burdened by his own high standards.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burden
Verb
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Wash them or load them into the dishwasher, and run it if necessary.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
16 Jan. 2026
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It was caused by a man who allegedly cut out 800 feet of fiber optic cable from an agency facility in Hayward, and loaded several spools of the wiring into his truck, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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My message this week is about not letting our hearts be troubled, and Jesus is the way.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
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On one of the final days of the semester, Raymundo peered into his Infiniti J30’s engine bay, searching for the issue that had troubled the car.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Patricia Gandara, a UCLA professor and co-director of its Civil Rights Project, previously expressed concern to the Union-Tribune that fear could depress attendance but also said families do put trust in their children’s schools.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
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Gradually freed of the weight of its ice, the rock beneath Greenland, long depressed by the massive ice sheet, rebounds.—
Paul Bierman,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There could be worrying consequences.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
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Allergen Alert is aimed at restaurant owners concerned about food safety for their diners, and at at-home consumers worried about cross-contamination or inaccurate ingredient listings when dining out.—
Shirl Leigh
January 14,
New Atlas,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Orpin did not respond to follow-up questions concerning the fate of the cidery's canning and retail sales operations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
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Other concerning signs include constipation, feeling cold all the time, lightheadedness or fainting, and missing periods in girls.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Discussions with the creative team led to the idea of showing how oppressed the animals were.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2026
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In Russia, Cuba, Iran, Belarus, and Uganda, dictatorships have carried on for decades—oppressing and killing their people, attacking their neighbors, and destabilizing their regions.—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Throughout the city, bare trees were weighed down with icicles and snow was piled up next to sidewalks.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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The breathable mesh upper and cushioned sole support long stretches on your feet without weighing down your carry-on.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For some with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), they may be distressed by the prospect of germs or how foods are prepared.—
Dr. Ellen S. Rome,
Boston Herald,
21 Dec. 2025
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The speech was largely a list of what the president sees as his accomplishments on the economy, with little nod to a wave of recent polls showing Americans distressed by the cost of living.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burden. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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